Board of Peace Appoints Former Biden Liaison to Secure Support for $14 Billion Gaza Plan

The Trump administration has appointed Shelley Greenspan, a former liaison for President Joe Biden, to a senior position at the Board of Peace. The new role focuses on congressional outreach, with a specific mandate to build support among Democratic lawmakers for the administration's 20-point Gaza peace plan.

Greenspan begins her duties next week. She will report to Josh Gruenbaum and Aryeh Lightstone, both senior advisers to the Board of Peace. The appointment is part of a wider strategy to secure bipartisan backing for the peace initiative and the Board itself.

The administration aims to prevent the Gaza plan from being a short-lived project tied solely to Republican leadership. By cultivating relationships with Democrats now, the goal is to ensure a future administration, potentially one elected in 2028, continues to support the framework. This approach draws on the administration's assessment of how previous diplomatic efforts, such as the Abraham Accords, were handled by the Biden team.

Greenspan brings a long history of service in foreign policy and technology. Her background includes roles at the State Department and the National Security Council, where she focused on global partnerships. She also worked at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and held management positions at technology firms, including Amazon. In 2022, Biden named her as his liaison to the Jewish community.

In a statement, Greenspan described the timing of her appointment as consequential. She referenced her prior work at the State Department to advance the previous administration's vision for the Middle East. "At the State Department, I worked to advance the President’s vision for peace and prosperity in the Middle East and saw how the President’s 20-Point Plan can tangibly deliver for the peoples of Gaza and Israel," Greenspan said. "I look forward to continuing that work with the Board."

The Board of Peace highlighted Greenspan's ability to work across political lines. The organization noted that she earned trust in both Democratic and Republican administrations through her service at the White House, the National Security Council, and the State Department. "Sustained, bipartisan support from Congress is essential to the work ahead, and Shelley is uniquely capable of leading this effort," the Board said.

Several prominent Democrats have already voiced support for the peace plan. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wrote in the Financial Times that the 20-point plan is the only framework with sufficient leverage and resources to move the parties toward implementation. Other supporters include former ambassador Jack Lew and former senior adviser Brett McGurk.