Former Deputy Chief of Staff Bruce Reed: Biden remained active decision-maker throughout presidency

Bruce Reed, who served as deputy chief of staff for policy to President Joe Biden from 2021 to 2025, told the House Committee on Oversight and Reform that he worked with the president "nearly every day" and observed him review and sign time-sensitive decision memos. Reed said the staff secretary documented and memorialized the president's decisions and that he personally sat with the president while he reviewed materials in the decision book.

"At times, I sat with President Biden while he reviewed his decision book and decided whether to accept, reject, or amend his team's recommendations," Reed read in a prepared statement entered into the record. He told the committee multiple times that he had "no knowledge" of anyone issuing executive orders, presidential memoranda, or other actions in the president's name without the president's knowledge or authorization.

Reed described the practice as consistent with procedures he observed in prior administrations: staff prepared decision memos, delivered them in a binder to the president, and the staff secretary ensured the president's signed decisions were documented and circulated for execution.

When asked directly whether anyone "stepped in" to carry out the duties of the presidency because Mr. Biden was unable to do so, Reed answered, "Not to my knowledge." When pressed about whether he knew of any instances in which executive actions were issued without Biden's authorization, he again replied, "Not to my knowledge." Reed said the same about anyone using the president's name to issue clemency or other acts without his authorization.

Reed also told the committee he had no personal conversations with Mr. Biden about the transcribed interview and said he had not discussed the interview with anyone other than his counsel. He emphasized he was appearing "voluntarily" in response to the committee's request and that his testimony reflected his own observations.

Reed acknowledged that the presidency "ages everyone," and that he and other staff "witnessed Joe Biden age physically," but he described the president as "dogged, inquisitive, and relentless" in his work and repeatedly affirmed confidence in Mr. Biden's capacity to carry out the duties of the office.

Reed's statements in the interview were narrowly framed as his personal observations; where he had no personal knowledge of specific allegations raised by the committee, he said so explicitly.

The committee entered Reed's prepared remarks as an exhibit; Reed also answered detailed questions about daily routines, scheduling and the process for documenting presidential decisions.