While speculation mounts that Jared Kushner will be tapped for a top gig at the White House, his younger brother Josh is facing a more uncertain future under the Trump presidency.
Josh Kushner co-founded his health startup Oscar Insurance in 2013. The New York company built its business around the Affordable Care Act, which Donald Trump has vowed to dismantle. Further complicating matters is that prominent Trump supporter Peter Thiel is among Oscar’s main investors, giving the startup ties to the incoming administration. These links to Trump could mean increased scrutiny for the company, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Oscar was valued at $2.7 billion in February, according to the Journal. But the company is already falling short of internal projections. It has pulled out of New Jersey, one of the four states where Oscar is available, and from the Dallas market, to try and contain costs.
Oscar is one of a number of insurance startups that are tied to the Affordable Care Act, the fate of which is not yet determined.
Josh Kushner publicly stated he would not vote for Donald Trump in the 2016 election.
He is said to be close to his older brother, Jared, but they generally keep their distance when it comes to their professional lives. Josh has not attended Kushner company meetings regularly for several years.
Jared, who played a key role in his father-in-law’s campaign, is reportedly being primed for a top job at the White House. However, there are questions around whether his appointment would violate anti-nepotism laws. [WSJ] — Miriam Hall