JD Foster is the Norman B. Ture Senior Fellow in the Economics of Fiscal Policy at The Heritage Foundation.
His primary focus is studying long-term changes in tax policy to ensure a strong economy. He also examines changes in Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security so they are both affordable and more effective.
Foster came to Heritage in 2007 after serving many years at the White House, the Executive Branch, Capitol Hill and private policy institutions. His last job before joining Heritage was at the White House's Office of Management and Budget, where he was Associate Director for Economic Policy.
While there, Foster led the office's economic policy staff and advised three Directors on developments in the economy and potential changes in economic policy. He was also the chief adviser to the Director on matters of tax policy and led the OMB team in the Administration's "Troika" economic forecasting process. In addition, he played a leading role in the development and advancement of the Administration's pension and private health care policies.
Before joining OMB in June 2002, Foster served at the Treasury Department, where he was Senior Adviser in Economics at the department's Office of Tax Policy. He also advised the Assistant Secretary on issues concerning the 2001 tax cut, the 2002 tax stimulus bill, reform of the tax expenditure presentation in the President's budget, simplification, and options for tax reform.
On Capitol Hill, he was the Legislative Director for Rep. Philip M. Crane (R-IL), then Vice Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. Before that, he was the Executive Director and Chief Economist at the Tax Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based research and education institution. While at the foundation, he saw its research program and reputation restored, a variety of new education programs instituted, and its debt retired. He also was Chief of Staff to Chairman Michael Boskin at the President's Council of Economic Advisors at the White House.
Prior to joining the Council of Economic Advisors, Foster was:
- Economic Counsel to Sen. Steve Symms (R-ID) and working on the Senate Finance and Budget Committees, 1991.
- Staff Economist at the Senate Republican Policy Committee under Sen. Don Nickles (R-OK), 1991.
- Economic Counsel to Sen. William Armstrong (R-CO) and working on the Senate Finance and Budget Committees, 1989-1990.
- Staff Economist at the Institute for Research on the Economics of Taxation, 1985–1989.
Foster received his doctorate in economics from Georgetown University, his master's degree in economics from Brown University, and bachelor's degrees in economics and mathematics from the University of Colorado.
