President Trump Nominates Indian American Harry Kumar as Assistant Secretary of Commerce
- He currently serves as a senior advisor in the Office of the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce, where he provides strategic guidance on economic policy, trade, and business development initiatives.
President Donald Trump has nominated Harry Kumar as Assistant Secretary of Commerce, the White House announced last week. The Indian American currently serves as a senior advisor in the Office of the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce, where he provides strategic guidance on economic policy, trade, and business development initiatives. In this role, he also advises on Capitol Hill engagement, legislative strategy, and key policy issues impacting the Department’s mission.
Before returning to the Department of Commerce, Harry was the director of Government Relations for Li-Cycle, where he led federal engagement on critical mineral and battery recycling policy. His expertise in legislative strategy was further honed in his previous role as Associate Director of Legislative Affairs at the Department of Commerce, where he managed congressional relations on significant policy initiatives.
Harry’s passion for public service began on Capitol Hill, where he worked as Legislative Counsel for Representative Randy Weber, focusing on key policy matters. He then advanced to the U.S. Senate, where he served as a policy advisor to Senator Marco Rubio, playing a pivotal role in shaping legislative efforts related to commerce and issues concerning Florida.
Born and raised in Beaumont, Texas, Kumar graduated from Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School. He holds his Doctor of Juris Prudence from Texas Tech University School of Law and was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 2013. He also holds a BA in Political Science from Texas A&M University.
Kumar’s parents, Drs. Nat and Saku Kumar, still reside in Beaumont, and his sister, Nitya Kumar Barrett lives with her husband, Barry, in Raleigh, North Carolina. Harry and his fiancée, Alexandra, currently reside in New York City.