If you’re trying to keep up with the revolving door of Washington D.C. lately, you aren’t alone. It’s a lot. Specifically, if you want to know who is the US commerce secretary right now, the name you need to know is Howard Lutnick.
He isn't your typical career politician. Far from it.
Lutnick was confirmed by the Senate in February 2025 with a 51-45 vote. He’s the 41st person to hold the job. But honestly, his background is what makes his current role so different from his predecessors like Gina Raimondo. Before he was the guy overseeing the Census and patent offices, he was the high-octane CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald. You might remember that firm—they were at the very top of the North Tower on September 11. Lutnick lost 658 employees that day, including his own brother.
That trauma basically defined how he ran his business for the next two decades, and it’s clearly shaping how he’s running the Department of Commerce today.
Why the US Commerce Secretary Matters More in 2026
For a long time, the Secretary of Commerce was kind of a "backseat" Cabinet position. It was the "chief cheerleader for American business" role. Nice, but not necessarily the center of the storm.
That’s changed. Completely.
Under the current administration, the Department of Commerce has become the tip of the spear for two massive things: tariffs and tech wars. Lutnick isn't just "overseeing" trade; he's practically the architect of the new American manufacturing "renaissance" he keeps talking about on Fox News and CNBC.
The Big Power Shift
Typically, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) handles the nitty-gritty of trade deals. But Lutnick has been given a unique amount of leash. He’s working hand-in-hand with Jamieson Greer (the USTR) to manage the massive tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada.
He basically views the US economy as a giant negotiation. He told a crowd in India recently that US trade partners "need to respect" the current administration's stance. It's aggressive. It's Wall Street style applied to global diplomacy.
The CHIPS Act and the AI Race
If you’re a tech nerd, Lutnick is the person holding the keys to the kingdom. He’s the one managing the fallout and the implementation of the CHIPS and Science Act.
This is where it gets complicated.
During his confirmation, he was kinda skeptical about how the money was being spent. He didn't want to just hand out billions to semiconductor companies without "rigorous" enforcement. Just this week, in mid-January 2026, he was in the news for a massive deal with Taiwan. We’re talking about a $165 billion investment plan coupled with $250 billion in credit guarantees. The goal? Making sure the AI chips of the future are built in places like Ohio and Arizona, not just overseas.
The Census Problem
People forget the Commerce Secretary also runs the Census Bureau. This sounds boring until you realize we're heading into the 2026 Census Test. This is the "practice run" for the big 2030 count. Lutnick has been grilled by people like Senator Gary Peters about whether he's going to fund this properly.
His response was basically: "We will count each whole person."
It sounds simple, but in the current political climate, how you count people determines where billions of dollars in federal funding go and how many seats each state gets in Congress. It's high-stakes math.
What Most People Miss About Lutnick’s Strategy
Lutnick isn't just doing "business as usual." He’s pushing for what he calls the Trump Gold Card.
It’s an immigration concept focused on bringing high-skilled workers to the US while keeping the "Americans first" philosophy. He’s trying to bridge the gap between "we need tech talent" and "we need to protect American jobs." It’s a tightrope walk.
He's also been incredibly active in space commerce. He recently appointed Taylor Jordan to lead the Office of Space Commerce. Why? Because the "Blue Economy" (oceans) and the "Space Economy" are the two frontiers he thinks will drive GDP for the next fifty years.
A Different Kind of Leadership
- Speed: He moves faster than a typical bureaucrat.
- Tone: He speaks in terms of "deals" and "leverage."
- Focus: He’s obsessed with the "five big industries": steel, aluminum, autos, semis, and lumber.
He isn't interested in incremental changes. He wants to move the needle by double digits.
Actionable Insights: What This Means for You
If you’re a business owner or an investor, you need to watch Lutnick’s "final rules" coming out of the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS).
For instance, just on January 13, 2026, his department released a new rule about "America First" certifications for advanced computing commodities. If you're exporting tech, the rules of the game just changed. You now have to prove that exporting that chip won't cause a shortage here at home.
🔗 Read more: Global Economic Shifts: Why the 2026 Map Looks Nothing Like We Expected
Steps to stay ahead:
- Monitor the BIS: Watch for "Final Rules" regarding export controls on AI and DRAM.
- Follow the Tariffs: Lutnick is moving toward "reciprocal tariffs." If a country taxes us, we tax them. Adjust your supply chain accordingly.
- Watch the 2026 Census Tests: If you're in a high-growth area, ensure your local government is engaging with the Commerce Department now, or you might lose out on infrastructure funding later.
Howard Lutnick is a polarizing figure, but there’s no denying he’s one of the most powerful people in the world right now when it comes to where your money—and the country's products—actually go.