Jason Kearns

Jason Kearns is an American lawyer and government official, currently serving as a commissioner for the United States International Trade Commission.

Before his appointment to the commission, Kearns served as chief international trade counsel to the United States House Committee on Ways and Means. Kearns previously served in the Office of the General Counsel to the U.S. Trade Representative and worked in the international trade group of the law firm WilmerHale.

Kearns was originally nominated to serve on the United States International Trade Commission by outgoing President Barack Obama in January 2017. After President Obama left office, Kearns' nomination was withdrawn and then resubmitted by President Trump. It is alleged that he harassed and intimidated International Trade Commission employees over policy disagreements and Kearns is accused of interfering with reports and biasing the contents of International Trade Commission analyses. Kearns denies these allegations and insists that he only used "impassioned language" and that the International Trade Commission's anti-harassment policies are part of an effort to "protect status-quo thinking"; Kearns rejects claims of interference with reports and analyses by arguing he had the authority to change anything without Chairman approval.