NAR’s new top lobbyist is a former Trump administration official

Shannon McGahn, a former Trump administration official at the Treasury Department, is now top lobbyist for the National Association of Realtors, the country’s second biggest lobbying group by dollars spent and the country’s largest voice for brokers.

McGahn most recently served on the staff of Republican Congressman Jeb Hensarling of Texas, who is chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. When she took that post in 2017, she was the first Trump-era official to leave a post at the Treasury. McGahn starts her new job at NAR on Oct. 15, Inman reported, and she will be the first woman to hold the chief lobbyist position. She is married to Donald McGahn, who serves as White House counsel to President Trump.

McGahn’s deep connections to the administration and Republicans in congress will no doubt be useful for the million-plus member trade group that has spent more than $80 million on lobbying since Trump took office less than two years ago. The group was particularly active during last year’s tax reform discussions, pressing lawmakers to curb the negative effect of some measures on incentives for homeownership. [Inman]—Will Parker