Adam Szubin

Adam Szubin is an American attorney who has spent the majority of his career in senior roles within the United States Department of Treasury, most notably serving as Acting Secretary during the early months of the Trump administration. His professional trajectory has centered on financial intelligence and sanctions enforcement, and he now applies that experience through academic and private‑practice positions.

Early life and career

Adam Jacob Szubin was born on January 1, 1972. He grew up in an Orthodox Jewish household that emphasized both religious observance and rigorous scholarship. His early education took place at Yavneh Academy and the Ramaz School—institutions known for combining a strong academic curriculum with a commitment to Jewish tradition. After completing secondary school, Szubin attended Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in 1994. He then pursued legal studies at Harvard Law School, obtaining his J.D. in 1997.

Szubin entered public service in 2004 when he joined the United States Department of Treasury. During President George W. Bush’s administration, he served as Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. In that capacity, he provided counsel on matters related to financial crimes and counterterrorist financing, helping shape policy responses to emerging threats in the global financial system.

From 2006 until 2015, Szubin was appointed Director of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). OFAC is the bureau responsible for administering economic sanctions against foreign entities and individuals deemed threats to U.S. national security or foreign policy objectives. As director, he oversaw the development and execution of sanction programs, coordinated with international partners on enforcement efforts, and ensured that U.S. financial institutions complied with regulatory requirements.

On April 16, 2015, President Barack Obama nominated Szubin as Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Crimes. He appeared before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs that same year to discuss his qualifications and proposed agenda. In 2016, the committee approved his nomination; however, it was never confirmed by the full Senate. Despite this, President Donald Trump retained Szubin in the role of Acting Under Secretary during the early months of the Trump administration, recognizing his expertise and continuity within the department.

After serving as Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Szubin became Acting Secretary of the Treasury on January 20, 2017 following the resignations of Treasury Secretary Jack Lew and Deputy Treasury Secretary Sarah Bloom Raskin. He held that position until Steven Mnuchin was confirmed by the Senate and sworn in as Secretary in February 2017. Following his brief tenure as acting secretary, Szubin left government service.

In private life, Szubin resides in Washington, D.C., with his wife Miriam Weiner Szubin and their three sons. He has continued to contribute to public policy through academic and legal avenues. Currently he is a Distinguished Practitioner‑in-Residence at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) within Johns Hopkins University, where he engages in scholarly work related to international finance and sanctions. Concurrently, he practices law at Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C., focusing on matters that intersect with his experience in financial regulation.

Cabinet tenure

Szubin’s most prominent cabinet-level role occurred during the presidential transition of 2017. After Treasury Secretary Jack Lew and Deputy Treasury Secretary Sarah Bloom Raskin stepped down, President Donald Trump appointed Szubin as Acting Secretary of the Treasury on January 20, 2017. He served in this capacity until Steven Mnuchin was confirmed by the Senate and sworn in as the new Secretary in February 2017. During his brief tenure, Szubin oversaw the day‑to‑day operations of the Treasury Department, ensuring continuity of policy implementation and administrative functions during a period of executive transition.

Prior to assuming the acting secretary position, Szubin had been serving as Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, a role that placed him at the helm of the department’s efforts to detect, deter, and disrupt illicit financial flows. His responsibilities included coordinating with international partners on sanctions enforcement and advising senior Treasury officials on strategies to counter money laundering and terrorist financing.

Legacy

Adam Szubin’s career reflects sustained involvement in the development and execution of U.S. economic sanctions policy. As Director of OFAC for nearly a decade, he played a central role in shaping the department’s approach to sanctioning foreign actors, thereby influencing global financial compliance standards. His experience as Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence further underscores his expertise in integrating financial intelligence with national security objectives.

In the public domain, Szubin has contributed to policy discussions through academic appointments and legal practice that draw upon his Treasury background. His position at SAIS enables him to mentor students and scholars interested in international finance law, while his work at Covington & Burling allows him to advise clients on navigating regulatory frameworks shaped by Treasury policies.

Although his time as Acting Secretary was brief, Szubin’s stewardship during a critical transition period helped maintain the operational stability of the Treasury Department. His broader legacy lies in the institutional knowledge he accrued over more than a decade within Treasury, particularly in the areas of sanctions enforcement and counterterrorism financing, which continue to inform contemporary policy debates and regulatory practices.