Mary Elizabeth Taylor facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mary Elizabeth Taylor
32nd Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs
In office October 12, 2018 – June 18, 2020
President	Donald Trump
Preceded by	Mary Kirtley Waters
Succeeded by	Naz Durakoğlu
Personal details
Born	Washington D.C., United States
Political party	Republican
Alma mater	Bryn Mawr College (BA)

Mary Elizabeth Taylor is an American political aide who worked as the Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs from 2018 to 2020. This job involved helping the U.S. government's top diplomat work with Congress.

She left her position on June 18, 2020. She resigned because she disagreed with how President Donald Trump handled the nationwide protests after the death of George Floyd. Before this role, she worked at the White House, helping with the process of choosing people for important government jobs.

Early Life and Education

Taylor grew up in Washington, D.C. She went to Bryn Mawr College and earned a degree in political science, which is the study of government and politics. While she was a student, she had an internship at Koch Industries.

Career in Government

Taylor is sworn in by Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on December 10, 2018.

First Steps in Politics

Taylor started her career in government in July 2006 as an intern for the United States Senate. She also worked in the Senate Republican cloakroom, a private area for senators. Later, she became an aide for Mitch McConnell, who was the Senate Majority Leader.

Working for the Trump Administration

Taylor worked for President Donald Trump as a Special Assistant for Legislative Affairs. This meant she helped the president's team communicate with Congress.

In March 2017, she became well-known on social media. She was seen at the meetings where senators decided if Neil Gorsuch should become a Supreme Court justice. Taylor was part of the team that helped Gorsuch prepare for these important meetings. In December 2018, Justice Gorsuch officially swore her into her new job at the U.S. Department of State.

In 2018, Forbes magazine named her on its "30 Under 30" list, which recognizes successful young people.

A Top Job at the State Department

In 2018, President Trump nominated Taylor to be the Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs. The Senate approved her for the job.

Her appointment was historic. She was the first African-American woman and the youngest person ever to have this role. At the time, she was also the only African-American senior official at the State Department.

Disagreement Over an Ambassador

In 2019, a disagreement arose about the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch. President Trump suddenly removed her from her job. Some people claimed Yovanovitch was getting in the way of the president's plans.

Yovanovitch later said she had been asked to stay in Ukraine longer before she was suddenly called back. However, in a letter to lawmakers, Taylor wrote that Yovanovitch's time in Ukraine was scheduled to end that summer anyway. Taylor's letter did not mention that Yovanovitch had been asked to extend her stay.

Why She Resigned

On June 18, 2020, Taylor resigned from her job at the State Department. She stated that she was leaving because of President Trump's response to the protests that happened after the death of George Floyd.