I recall hearing that the “Czars” did not need to be vetted, congress approved, or needed background checks because these positions are at the pleasure of the president. In fact, I believe at least one of the them works for free. I don’t know anything about the others.
Umm... don’t all WH employees and all those who have access to the president, need security clearances, and therefore vetting. We are not talkinga about Senate approval. We are talking about background checks to insure they are not a danger to the president and those around him.
The CEQ is allowed three top officials, each of the three must be confirmed by the US Senate.
It is my understanding that one of the three of these then in turn appointed Mr. Jones.
Mr. Jones in turn did not need to be confirmed by the Senate.
I do not know to what extent he has a security clearance. It is true he is probably allowed into controlled sections of the Executive Office Building, or New Executive Office Bldg, wherever CEQ business takes him. There may have been a form he had to fill out listing any kinds of baggage, so that is also a smoking gun. The FBI background check of him needs to be confirmed.
As of 1993, the admission of being a member of a communist organization being a kiss of death for such a position, was eliminated and de-stygmitized.