Miles Taylor (security expert) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Miles Taylor
Chief of Staff of the United States Department of Homeland Security
In office February 8, 2019 – September 2019
President	Donald Trump
Preceded by	Chad Wolf
Succeeded by	Chad Mizelle (acting)
Personal details
Born	1986/1987 (age 37–38)
Political party	Forward (2022–present)
Other political affiliations	Independent (2022) Republican (until 2022)
Education	Indiana University Bloomington (BA) New College, Oxford (MPhil)

Miles Taylor (born 1986/1987) is an author and speaker. He used to work for the American government. He served in the governments of George W. Bush and Donald Trump.

During Donald Trump's time as president, Miles Taylor worked for the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This department helps keep the country safe. He was the chief of staff for the DHS from 2017 to 2019. This means he was a top helper to the head of the department. He was first asked to join by John F. Kelly, who was a former DHS Secretary.

In 2018, Taylor wrote an article for The New York Times. He used the secret name "Anonymous." The article was called "I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration." It was very popular because it criticized President Trump. After leaving the government, he wrote a book in 2019, also as "Anonymous." It was called A Warning. In October 2020, he told everyone he was "Anonymous." He then spoke out against Trump's re-election. He was the first former Trump official to support Joe Biden. He also started a group of former officials who opposed Trump. Today, Taylor advises new technology companies. He also talks on the news about technology and national security. He has taught at a university about national security too.

Early Life and School

Miles Taylor grew up in La Porte, Indiana. He was a top debater in Indiana. He was also one of the best students in his class at La Porte High School in 2006. While in high school, he worked as a page in the U.S. House of Representatives. This meant he helped lawmakers in Washington, D.C.

He earned a bachelor's degree in international security studies. He went to Indiana University Bloomington. He was a special student there, earning Harry S. Truman Scholar and Herman B. Wells Scholar awards. These awards help pay for college. As a senior, he won a special internship from the university president. He also received the Elvis J. Stahr Award, given to top graduating students.

Taylor later earned a master's degree in International Relations. He studied at New College, Oxford in England. He was a Marshall Scholar, which is another important scholarship.

Career Path

Miles Taylor decided to work for the government because of the September 11 attacks in 2001. He said he wanted to spend his life making sure such a day would not happen again. He wanted to help advance human freedom.

In 2007, while still in college, Taylor worked as an intern. He worked for the Secretary of Defense and Vice President Dick Cheney. In 2008, he helped prepare information for Secretary Michael Chertoff at the Department of Homeland Security. In 2009, he worked for the Department of Defense.

Taylor was chosen for a government job during George W. Bush's time as president. He worked for the House Appropriations Committee. This committee decides how the government spends money. Then he worked for the Committee on Homeland Security. He was a top helper for Chairman Michael McCaul. Taylor wrote speeches for McCaul. He also advised him on fighting terrorism and foreign policy. He helped lead a special group that worked to stop terrorists from traveling. In 2015, he became a Penn Kemble Fellow. This is a special title given by the National Endowment for Democracy.

In 2016, Taylor helped write a plan for national security. This plan was for House Speaker Paul Ryan. It was called the "Better Way" agenda.

Working at Homeland Security

Taylor (right) with then-Secretary Nielsen in 2018

Taylor joined the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in February 2017. This was when John F. Kelly was the head of DHS. Kelly later became the White House Chief of Staff. Taylor worked as a deputy chief of staff and senior advisor to Kelly. He later became the chief of staff for DHS. This was during the time of Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and Acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan.

While at DHS, Taylor helped improve U.S. defenses against dangerous drones. He also led important efforts to stop terrorist plans. These plans often involved many groups and countries.

Taylor had described some of the Trump administration's travel rules as "tough." But he said they were also "tailored" or specific. He reportedly argued with other officials to limit how many countries were affected. He also took part in talks about other immigration policies. He later called a policy that separated families at the border a "sickening display of bad judgment." Taylor said this policy was one reason he left the Trump Administration. He called it "one of the most disheartening and disgusting things I've ever experienced."

Taylor also led the DHS's first real-life practice for a possible nuclear attack. This happened after North Korea tested long-range missiles. After Russia tried to interfere in the 2016 U.S. elections, Taylor helped make U.S. elections safer. This was to prevent foreign countries from meddling in American elections again.

The "Anonymous" Author

In September 2018, Taylor wrote an article for The New York Times. It was called "I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration." He used the secret name "Anonymous." News reporter Mika Brzezinski said the article "turned the Trump Administration and the country upside down."

Taylor said that in April 2019, he saw President Trump offer pardons to Homeland Security staff. This meant they would not be charged with crimes if they stopped illegal immigration to the United States. Taylor said this was when he decided to leave the department. He left DHS in June 2019.

He then secretly released a book called A Warning in November 2019. The book described problems inside the Trump White House. USA Today called the book "a scathing portrait of a president and administration in chaos." The Washington Post said there was "no modern historical parallel" for a book like it. The book became number one on The New York Times Best Seller list.

After the book came out, Taylor answered questions online as "Anonymous." He said he would reveal his identity before the 2020 election. He also promised to give most of the money from the book to charity. He later announced he had donated the money to different groups.

He publicly said he was "Anonymous" just before the 2020 election. He explained his decision to stay anonymous at first. He said it made the President answer the arguments directly. It stopped him from just insulting the author. Taylor wanted people to focus on the ideas, not who wrote them.

Working at Google

In September 2019, Taylor started working at Google. He worked on government relations and public policy. He was the head of national security policy engagement. Later, he was promoted to lead Google's advanced technology and security strategy. Around the same time, he also became a senior fellow at the Auburn University McCrary Center. He also joined the Council on Foreign Relations.

Speaking Out About the Trump Government

In August 2020, Taylor took time off from Google. He wanted to support Joe Biden's presidential campaign. He made an advertisement for Republican Voters Against Trump. In it, he spoke against Trump and supported Biden for president in the 2020 presidential election. That same month, Taylor also wrote an article for The Washington Post.

The next day, Taylor appeared on many news shows. He said other former Trump officials were thinking about speaking out too. On August 24, Taylor told NBC News he was starting a group. It was called the Republican Political Alliance for Integrity and Reform (REPAIR). This group aimed to oppose Trump's re-election. It also wanted to improve the Republican Party after the 2020 election.

Taylor spoke out against Trump many times. He said Trump was too busy to pay attention to important security briefings. He also said Trump refused advice to punish Russia for interfering in U.S. affairs. Taylor claimed Trump wanted to trade Puerto Rico for Greenland. He said Trump thought Puerto Rico was "dirty and the people were poor." Taylor also said Trump tried to stop aid for California wildfire victims. This was because California is a Democratic state. He also said Trump told his homeland security secretary to listen to a TV talk show host.

In 2020, Taylor and over 130 other former Republican security officials signed a statement. They said President Trump was not fit to serve another term. They believed it was best for the country if Vice President Joe Biden became president. They said they would vote for him.

In September 2020, Taylor told The Lincoln Project about executive orders. He said a senior presidential adviser had prepared them for a possible second Trump term. Taylor said these orders were not used during the first term because they might hurt Trump's chances of re-election.

Taylor also told news groups that Trump ordered flags to be raised. This was after they were lowered to honor Senator John McCain. He also said Trump ignored warnings about the rise of domestic terrorism. Taylor appeared on a CNN special in October 2020. It was called "The Insiders: A Warning from Former Trump Officials." In it, Taylor criticized Trump's focus on the border wall. He said this "wall-or-nothing approach" made the president ignore other important threats. These included cybersecurity, terrorism, and natural disasters.

In an interview in June 2021, Taylor said the biggest threat to the United States was "extremist elements" within his own political party. He included those involved in the January 6th Insurrection. Taylor said he did not see himself as brave for speaking out. He thought many people in his party were "cowardly" for not doing the same.

Even with his strong opposition to Donald Trump, Taylor asked conservatives to join Trump's second government if he won. After the 2024 election, Taylor wrote in the New York Times. He urged "Republicans with integrity" to serve in the government. He said they should do it to protect the country's principles.

Community Involvement

In May 2021, House Republicans removed Representative Liz Cheney from her leadership role. This was because she opposed Trump. After this, Taylor and Evan McMullin brought together over 150 Republicans. This group included former governors, senators, and cabinet members. They issued "A Call for American Renewal." They threatened to form a third political party if the Republican Party did not change.

In June 2021, Taylor and McMullin started a new group called the Renew America Movement (RAM). This group wanted to find candidates for the 2022 elections. These candidates would challenge those who still supported Trump. In October 2021, Taylor and former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman wrote an article. They announced that RAM would support "rational" Republicans and moderate Democrats. Their goal was to take power away from pro-Trump Republicans. Taylor's group later said they planned to raise "tens of millions" of dollars. This money would help chosen candidates. It was to counter Donald Trump's influence on the Republican Party.

In July 2022, Taylor combined his group, Renew America Movement, with others. They launched a new political party in the United States. It included former Democrats, Independents, and Republicans. When announcing the new Forward Party, Taylor said that Americans are now looking for an alternative to the main parties.

Havana Syndrome Incidents

In a "60 Minutes" interview in February 2022, Taylor said he had two experiences that matched Havana syndrome symptoms. Havana syndrome is a set of strange health problems. Taylor also said he knew of a high-level government official who had similar experiences.

Political Views

Miles Taylor was a Republican for most of his life. But he did donate to the Barack Obama campaign in the 2008 presidential election. He said he was supporting John McCain. But he also wanted to tell his future children that he supported the first Black president.

In May 2022, Taylor announced he was leaving the Republican Party. He said the party was supporting ideas like the "great replacement theory." This was especially true after the Buffalo shooting. He stated that his party no longer represented conservative values. He felt it was a threat to those values and to America. Taylor is now a member of The Forward Party.

See also

In Spanish: Miles Taylor para niños

• List of former Trump administration officials who endorsed Joe Biden

Writings