Chao and McConnell family Trumphas nominated Mitch McConnell's brother-in-law to head the PBGC.McConnell is married to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, whosesister is married to nominee Gordon Hartogensis.

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(Bloomberg) –President Donald Trump nominated GordonHartogensis, a self-described entrepreneur who is Senate MajorityLeader Mitch McConnell and Secretary of Transportation ElaineChao's brother-in-law, to lead the federal agency that pays workerpensions when employers terminate their retirement plans.

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Hartogensis helps govern his family's trust and is the CEO ofAuric Technology, a closely held software company, according to hisLinkedIn page.

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In making the announcement, the White House did not providebiographical information about him or answer questions about hisrelationship to Chao and McConnell, who are married. Hartogensis ismarried to one of Chao's sisters, according to a person familiarwith the matter.

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Email and phone messages left for Hartogensis at Auric were notreturned.

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If confirmed by the Senate, he would replace the currentdirector of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, Tom Reeder,who was appointed by former President Barack Obama in 2015.

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The PBGC runs separate insurance programs for single- andmulti-employer pension plans. Both owe more in future liabilitiesthan they have in assets, though the program for single employersis expected to reach balance by 2022.

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The multi-employer program, however, had assets of only $2.3billion and liabilities of $67 billion as of September 30,according to congressional testimony by Reeder. He described itsfinancial condition as "dire and without action will be worse."It's projected to be insolvent by 2025.

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