President Trump Appoints Thomas Emanuel Dans to Lead US Arctic Research Commission

Trump Names Dans to Head Arctic Research Commission

President Donald Trump has appointed Thomas Emanuel Dans to lead the United States Arctic Research Commission (USARC), an independent federal agency tasked with advising the President and Congress on America's research activities in the Arctic. The appointment was announced on December 10, 2025. This marks a return to the commission for Dans, who previously served as a Commissioner after being appointed by Trump in December 2020.

Background and Expertise of Thomas Dans

Thomas Emanuel Dans brings over 30 years of experience in investment management, entrepreneurship, and public service to his new role. During President Trump's first term, Dans served as Counselor to the Under Secretary for International Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. In this capacity, he played a role in designing and executing the $78 billion Aviation industry CARES Act Pandemic relief program and engaged in policy work concerning U.S. Arctic neighbors, particularly Greenland.

Academically, Dans holds a dual BA degree cum laude in Russian Studies and U.S. History from Brown University and was an Advanced Leadership Fellow at Harvard University in 2015. He is also a CFA Charterholder, a professional designation in investment management. Dans is the founder of Grand River Capital and the non-profit American Daybreak, which aims to foster closer U.S.-Greenlandic ties. His family has a historical connection to the Arctic, with his grandfather, Emanuel Dans, having served in the U.S. defense of Greenland and assisting in the establishment of Thule Air Base.

The Role of the US Arctic Research Commission

Established by the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984, the USARC is a crucial advisory body. Its principal duties include:

• Establishing national policy, priorities, and goals for federal scientific research in the Arctic.
• Promoting Arctic research and recommending policy to the President and Congress.
• Working with the National Science Foundation to implement Arctic research policy and foster inter-agency cooperation.
• Providing guidance to the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC) for developing national Arctic research projects.
• Interacting with Arctic residents and international programs to gain a comprehensive understanding of research needs.

The Commission operates with staff in Washington, D.C., and Anchorage, Alaska, and delivers a biennial report to the President and Congress.

Previous Tenure and Political Context

Dans's appointment in 2025 follows a prior term as a Commissioner, which began in December 2020. However, in September 2021, the Biden administration requested the resignation of Dans and other Trump appointees from the USARC, an action described as unprecedented in the commission's history. Critics of the current appointment note that the role has traditionally been held by scientists or career diplomats, and Dans's background as a venture capitalist and political ally represents a departure from this tradition. Following the announcement, Dans posted 'Make the Arctic Great Again' on social media platform X.