Minter to co-chair task force eyeing economic impacts of the Trump administration
January 16, 2025 | By Waterbury Roundabout Vermont state Treasurer Mike Pieciak today announced the creation of the Treasurer’s Task Force on the Federal Transition to assess the economic impact of new policies of the incoming federal administration.
The new group will be led by Treasurer Mike Pieciak and Sue Minter of Waterbury.
“Composed of policy experts, business and community leaders, and individuals with a deep understanding of Vermont’s economy, the Task Force will assess the economic impact of the incoming Trump administration’s anticipated policy changes and provide recommendations to the Treasurer,” Pieciak’s announcement explains. “The Task Force will help ensure that we are prepared to respond to changes coming out of Washington that could impact our economy or the cost of living for Vermonters.”
Pieciak said the decision to create the group comes from experience during the first administration of President Donald Trump, 2017-2021. “During President Trump’s first term, I found proactive coordination was critical to making effective policy decisions that best served Vermonters. The same will be true now as we navigate the challenges and opportunities of a second Trump term, and I’m grateful to the Task Force members for their willingness to lend their experience and expertise to this effort.”
The new administration in Washington, D.C. transitions on Jan. 20 with the inauguration of Trump who begins his second term. Pieciak said state treasurers across the country will be evaluating how to navigate anticipated policy changes from the past four years of President Joe Biden’s administration.
Recommendations from the task force will inform the treasurer’s efforts related to fiscal policy, the investment of state funds, and management of the state’s finances. The group also will help share information among Vermont stakeholders affected by changes in federal policy and collect public input on the impacts of those changes on Vermonters, the announcement states.
Vermont receives significant federal funding through a variety of programs that could change under the Trump administration. For example, impacts could affect access to affordable healthcare and flood recovery support, Pieciak’s announcement noted. Changes to immigration and border policies could affect Vermont’s agriculture sector, while new trade tariffs could drive up costs, particularly for building materials critical to new housing development.
“At this time of rapid transition we need a critical perspective on how the changing federal landscape will affect Vermonters’ economic security and the state’s fiscal stability,” Minter said in the task force announcement. “From potential impacts on housing production to climate resilience and the cost of goods and services, the Task Force can help prepare for potential disruption and seek remedies to support Vermont communities.”
Minter last month stepped down after six years as executive director at Capstone Community Action, a Central Vermont social services organization. Minter’s previous government roles have included serving as Vermont’s Chief Recovery Officer after Tropical Storm Irene, as secretary of the Agency of Transportation, and as a state representative from Waterbury. Minter was the Democratic candidate for governor in 2016 and also headed up the nonprofit Special Olympics Vermont.
The Task Force members are:
Mike Pieciak, co-chair, Vermont State Treasurer
Sue Minter, co-chair, recent executive director of Capstone Community Action
David Marvin, founder, Butternut Mountain Farm
Jill Martin Diaz, executive director, Vermont Asylum Assistance Project
Shabnam Nolan, executive director, King Street Center
Olivia Sweetnam, CEO, Grace Cottage Hospital
Peter Gregory, executive director, Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission
Brian Lowe, principal, Assembly Theory
Lowe will serve as the Task Force’s main staff member. The group held its first meeting on Jan. 15 to discuss its purpose, goals, timeline, and advisory role. It will meet monthly for up to six months, starting on Jan. 22. Advance public notice of each meeting will be posted on the treasurer’s website, along with an agenda.