Recent Publication:
“The midterm elections are a natural point for the Biden administration to pivot in terms of both personnel and policy. The White House itself will tack to the center in preparation for the president’s re-election campaign, but Biden’s regulators will continue to pursue an aggressive progressive agenda.” — Howard Schweitzer, CEO, Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies
Howard is CEO of Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies and served in high-level political and executive appointments in the Bush, Clinton, and Obama administrations, including a pivotal role in the federal government’s financial crisis response as Chief Operating Officer of the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). Howard counsels clients regarding a variety of regulatory and policy issues before the U.S. government and represents clients before U.S. Executive Branch agencies and Congress.
In October 2008, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson appointed Howard as the first COO of TARP. In this position, Howard led program execution and built the TARP infrastructure. He served as a key point person regarding the financial crisis through the presidential transition and continued to serve as TARP COO under Secretary Timothy Geithner until August 2009. In this position, Howard played a critical role in overseeing the program administration and was responsible for ensuring that multiple agencies and government parties were aligned and coordinated in their understanding of the program and its priorities.
Prior to his Treasury appointment, Howard was appointed by President Bush as senior vice president, general counsel, corporate secretary, and chief ethics officer at the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank). In this capacity, he was Ex-Im Bank's principal legal and corporate governance officer. Howard began his career at Ex-Im Bank during the Clinton administration and throughout his tenure was involved in negotiating the bank's most complex international financial transactions. Howard also played a key role in managing the bank's $60 billion credit portfolio and in interfacing with other executive branch agencies and Congress. Howard served as a trusted adviser to five bank chief executives in both Republican and Democratic administrations and ran the Senate confirmation process for more than 20 presidential nominees.
Upon his departure from the Treasury, Secretary Geithner awarded Howard the Treasury's Distinguished Service Award for his role in creating TARP and responding to the financial crisis. He also received the Export-Import Bank Chairman's Award in 2003 for his service to the U.S. exporting community.
Howard often contributes political and policy commentary to various leading TV, print, and radio media. His appearances include op-eds in Fortune, Forbes and The Daily Caller; guest slots on CNN and POTUS Politics; and commentary in The Washington Post and CNN. He also co-leads Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies’ political series and podcast, which provides analysis and insight on political and policy developments in Washington.
He earned his law degree from George Washington University Law School and his Bachelor of Arts in history, with distinction, from the University of Michigan.
News
October 19, 2021
Howard Schweitzer and Patrick Martin, respectively CEO and Managing Director of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, were featured in Business Insider as two of the 12 influential digital-currency advocates and lobbyists who are shaping the cryptocurrency discourse on Capitol Hill.
August 16, 2021
Howard Schweitzer was quoted in the Wall Street Journal discussing the impact cryptocurrency has had on politics lately.
April 15, 2021
Howard Schweitzer was quoted in an article by Investment News arguing that one of the biggest challenges facing big businesses today is determining whether they should speak out on election reform laws that are proliferating across the country.
March 01, 2021
Howard Schweitzer and Michael Schmidt were quoted in SHRM discussing what businesses should do if an employee refuses to come back to work when they re-open.
January 22, 2021
Howard Schweiter and Michael Schmidt were quoted in SHRM about what employers have learned during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
February 03, 2020
In its January 2020 edition, the Chicago Lawyer magazine highlights the work of the Chicago office of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, particularly Darren Collier’s efforts to shape the 2020 legislative agenda.
January 01, 2018
Howard Schweitzer and Mark Alderman look back at 2017 and highlight a few of the ways it was year of change for Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies.
Publications
June 22, 2022
“The midterm elections are a natural point for the Biden administration to pivot in terms of both personnel and policy. The White House itself will tack to the center in preparation for the president’s re-election campaign, but Biden’s regulators will continue to pursue an aggressive progressive agenda.” — Howard Schweitzer, CEO, Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies
June 14, 2022
“Democrats are fretting the midterm elections and Republicans are licking their chops. But for anyone already anticipating total gridlock inside the Beltway, it would be wise to remember that Democrats still have unified control of government for the time being and will still control the White House at least through 2024.” — Howard Schweitzer, CEO, Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies
June 07, 2022
“As Republicans and Democrats once again try to find common ground on gun reforms, albeit with modest expectations, they continue to wrestle with the root causes of America’s undeniable status as a global outlier on gun deaths and mass shootings.” — Howard Schweitzer, CEO, Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies
May 24, 2022
“Despite the headwinds Democrats face going into November, Republicans are doing their best to save Democrats from themselves by putting forward extreme candidates whose principal qualification for office seems to be whether they support former President Trump’s false claim of victory in 2020.” — Howard Schweitzer, CEO, Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies
May 17, 2022
“Inflation appears to be both an intractable economic and political problem right now, likely weighing heavily on Democrats’ prospects in this fall’s midterm elections. But how inflation looks in 2024, not 2022, matters far more in terms of the success of Joe Biden’s presidency.” — Howard Schweitzer, CEO, Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies
May 10, 2022
“Controversy — and efforts to politically capitalize on it — remains one of the only constants in Washington.” — Howard Schweitzer, CEO, Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies
May 03, 2022
“Joe Biden and Donald Trump are shadow boxing in the 2022 midterm elections even though neither of them are formally on the ballot. And contrary to conventional wisdom, they are likely to face a real re-match in 2024.” — Howard Schweitzer, CEO, Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies
February 21, 2021
Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, Patrick Martin, and Stuart Shorenstein discuss the impact of the current scandals and whether they seem to indicate the return to old-school, rough-and-tumble, hardball-style politics.
March 28, 2020
Members of Cozen O'Connor's Coronavirus Task Force provide analysis of the CARES Act and how it will impact small businesses, distressed industries, employers and employees, taxes, and the health care, real estates, and energy industries.
February 21, 2019
On our second Beltway Briefing of the new year, Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, Blake Rutherford, and Kaitlyn Martin discussed the latest news from the Trump Administration and the 116th Congress, broke down the most recent developments in the 2020 primaries (which seem to be in full force!), and predicted what we could expect in the months ahead.
January 09, 2019
On our first Beltway Briefing of the new year, Howard Schweitzer, Blake Rutherford, and Kaitlyn Martin discuss where Washington stands on Day 19 of this partial government shutdown (with seemingly no end in sight), what bipartisan legislation might look like from the new 116th Congress, and how the Democratic presidential politics of 2020 are beginning to shape up.
November 08, 2018
On our final episode of The Beltway Briefing Road to the 2018 Midterm Elections, Mark Alderman, Howard Schweitzer, and Blake Rutherford analyze Tuesday’s election results with a view toward how the outcomes will impact policymaking in Washington heading into 2019. The team also discusses the resignation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and look forward to what the 2020 presidential election may bring.
November 06, 2018
On today’s special, live election day edition of our Beltway Briefing Road to the 2018 Midterm Elections podcast, Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, and Blake Rutherford give their final predictions and analysis before polls close.
October 31, 2018
On this week’s (Halloween!) edition of the Beltway Briefing Road to the 2018 Midterm Elections podcast, Mark Alderman, Howard Schweitzer, and Blake Rutherford discuss the state of the midterms with less than 7 days until the ballots are counted.
October 30, 2018
On this podcast, Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies Managing Partner Howard Schweitzer and Former Virginia Attorney General and member of the Cozen O’Connor State AG group Jerry Kilgore join Blake Rutherford to discuss the highlights of key incumbent and open seat races in the 31 State AG elections in 2018.
October 17, 2018
On this week’s edition of the Beltway Briefing Road to the 2018 Midterm Elections podcast, Howard Schweitzer, Blake Rutherford, Kaitlyn Martin, and Hope Sheils discuss the state of the midterms with only 19 days left to go.
October 11, 2018
On this week’s edition of the Beltway Briefing Road to the 2018 Midterms podcast, Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, and Blake Rutherford discuss fresh polling numbers and campaign messaging in the wake of the Kavanaugh nomination.
October 03, 2018
On this week’s edition of the Beltway Briefing Road to the 2018 Midterm Elections podcast, Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, and Kaitlyn Martin discuss the continuing controversy surrounding Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination and what it means for the midterm elections.
September 24, 2018
On this week’s call, Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, Blake Rutherford, and Kaitlyn Martin discuss the breaking news surrounding Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in light of revelations he’s discussed invoking the 25th Amendment to remove President Trump from office, the ongoing news surrounding Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination, and the lens through which voters may view this ongoing “chaos in Washington” heading into November.
September 18, 2018
On today’s call, GOP Strategist and former COO of TARP Howard Schweitzer, Democratic strategist and former member of the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team Mark Alderman, and former chief of staff to two attorneys general Blake Rutherford discussed the uncertain path forward with Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination and the Trump Administrations’ new round of tariffs on China – and the ways these issues could influence the midterm elections. Howard, Mark and Blake also examined the latest polling and fundraising data in key Senate, House, and Governor’s races.
September 13, 2018
It’s 53 days until the midterms, and with seemingly every day bringing new breaking news about the president, GOP Strategist and former COO of TARP Howard Schweitzer, Democratic Strategist and former member of the Obama-Biden presidential transition team Mark Alderman, and former chief of staff to two attorneys general Blake Rutherford had a lot to discuss.
August 29, 2018
With a little over two months to go before the midterm election, GOP Strategist and former COO of TARP Howard Schweitzer and Democratic strategist and former member of the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team Mark Alderman discuss some of their predictions for November and analyze several highly-watched races that could tip the balance of power in Washington.
August 22, 2018
On this special edition of the Beltway Briefing Road to the 2018 Midterm Elections podcast, Howard Schweitzer, CPS’s managing partner, interviews Jim Davis, director of our Pennsylvania Public Strategies practice, about the current political climate in Pennsylvania.
August 15, 2018
On this special edition of the Beltway Briefing Road to the 2018 Midterm Elections call, Howard Schweitzer, CPS’s Managing Partner, interviews Katie Schwab, Rose Christ and Ken Fisher of our New York City office about the current political climate in New York, the recent activism we’ve been seeing by the City Council and Mayor’s Office – particularly as it relates to the “disruptors” like Uber, Lyft, and Airbnb – and the team’s thoughts on the closely-watched Governor and State Attorneys General races in New York.
July 24, 2018
On today’s call, GOP Strategist and former COO of TARP Howard Schweitzer and former chief of staff to two attorneys general Blake Rutherford analyzed the impacts President Trump’s trade, immigration and health care policies are likely to have on local races this November.
July 18, 2018
On today’s call, GOP Strategist and former COO of TARP Howard Schweitzer, Democratic strategist and former member of the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team Mark Alderman, and former chief of staff to two attorneys general Blake Rutherford discussed the fallout from President Trump’s meeting this week with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, reaction to Trump’s nomination of D.C. Circuit Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court, and the ways these issues and more could move voters in November.
June 14, 2018
On today’s call, GOP Strategist and former COO of TARP Howard Schweitzer, Democratic strategist and former member of the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team Mark Alderman, and former chief of staff to two attorneys general Blake Rutherford break down the top U.S. Senate races to watch and began making their predictions for November.
June 05, 2018
The Super Tuesday of 2018 has arrived and today, voters in eight states go to the polls to cast votes in highly watched primary elections.
May 17, 2018
On today’s call, we welcomed a special guest – former two-term U.S. Senator and Governor of Indiana Evan Bayh, who recently joined Cozen O’Connor and Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies. Joining Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, and Blake Rutherford, Senator Bayh shared insights from his time serving on the Senate Intelligence Committee and underscored his support for the confirmation of Gina Haspel as the next Director of the CIA. The conversation touched on the Trump administration’s impact on international affairs, as well as the economy.
April 05, 2018
On today’s call, GOP Strategist and former COO of TARP Howard Schweitzer, Democratic strategist and former member of the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team Mark Alderman, and former chief of staff to two attorneys general Blake Rutherford walk through the ever-changing personnel dynamics within the Trump White House, including who’s left from the president’s original cabinet and West Wing staff, who’s new, and why it matters for future policy decisions.
March 01, 2018
Howard Schweitzer, Robert Freeman, and Jeff Vogel discuss the president's "Legislative Outline for Rebuilding Infrastructure in America."
February 26, 2018
On today’s call, GOP Strategist and former COO of TARP Howard Schweitzer, Democratic strategist and former member of the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team Mark Alderman, and former chief of staff to two attorneys general Blake Rutherford discuss the politics of the day including the potential for Congress to pass meaningful gun control and immigration reform measures, redistricting in Pennsylvania, and the White House’s recently-released infrastructure proposal – all against the backdrop of the 2018 Midterm elections.
February 15, 2018
Howard Schweitzer and Rob Freeman discusses the Trump administration’s highly anticipated “Legislative Outline for Rebuilding Infrastructure in America,” a 53-page document highlighting the White House’s core principles for rebuilding and revitalizing the nation’s aging infrastructure.
February 07, 2018
On today’s call, GOP Strategist and former COO of TARP Howard Schweitzer, Democratic strategist and former member of the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team Mark Alderman, and former chief of staff to two attorneys general Blake Rutherford share reactions from last week’s State of the Union Address, explore the likelihood of a government shutdown and analyze the outlook for the 2018 Midterm elections.
January 11, 2018
On our first call of the new year, GOP Strategist and former COO of TARP Howard Schweitzer, Democratic strategist and former member of the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team Mark Alderman, and former chief of staff to two attorneys general Blake Rutherford dive into the impact of passage of last year’s sweeping tax reform bill, the prospects for reaching a bipartisan deal on DACA, the impending threat of a government shutdown, and what this all means for the 2018 Midterm elections.
December 06, 2017
GOP Strategist and former COO of TARP Howard Schweitzer, Democratic strategist and former member of the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team Mark Alderman, and former chief of staff to two attorneys general Blake Rutherford break down Congress’ busy year-end agenda as we head into the final month of the year.
November 09, 2017
Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, and Blake Rutherford debrief on the results of Tuesday's gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey and analyze what it means for Washington.
October 30, 2017
Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, and Blake Rutherford discuss the upcoming race for Governor in Virginia.
October 11, 2017
Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, and Blake Rutherford discuss recent developments in the Trump administration and on Capitol Hill, including prospects for tax reform in our current legislative landscape.
Events & Seminars
Past Events
December 08, 2021
- Webinar
December 07, 2020
- Webinar
November 18, 2020
- Webinar
November 05, 2020
- Webinar
November 04, 2020
- Webinar
September 30, 2020
- Webinar
October 16, 2019
- Richmond, VA
February 21, 2019
- Conference Call/Podcast
January 09, 2019
- Conference Call/Podcast
November 08, 2018
- Conference Call/Podcast
November 06, 2018
- Philadelphia, PA
October 11, 2018
- Conference Call/Podcast
October 03, 2018
- Conference Call/Podcast
September 24, 2018
- Conference Call/Podcast
September 13, 2018
- Conference Call/Podcast
August 29, 2018
- Conference Call/Podcast
July 18, 2018
- Conference Call/Podcast
June 26, 2018
- Conference Call/Podcast
June 14, 2018
- Conference Call/Podcast
June 05, 2018
- Conference Call/Podcast
May 17, 2018
- Conference Call/Podcast
April 25, 2018
- Conference Call/Podcast
April 05, 2018
- Conference Call/Podcast
March 14, 2018
- Conference Call/Podcast
February 26, 2018
- Conference Call/Podcast
January 11, 2018
- Conference Call/Podcast
December 06, 2017
- Philadelphia, PA
December 05, 2017
- Conference Call/Podcast
November 09, 2017
- Conference Call/Podcast
November 01, 2017
- Webinar
October 26, 2017
- Conference Call/Podcast
October 11, 2017
- Conference Call/Podcast