Jeff Vanderslice

About Jeff

Jeff Vanderslice joined the R Street Institute in 2022 and currently serves as vice president of policy partnerships and government affairs. He previously served as senior director of federal government affairs.  

Prior to R Street, Jeff spent 10 years working for a former member of Congress from California. In his seven years as legislative director, he handled a broad portfolio of domestic policy issues including energy, environment, natural resources, appropriations, and drug policy. He was also integrally involved with the enactment of the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment, which bars the Department of Justice from using appropriated funds to prosecute those acting in compliance with state medical marijuana laws.

Following his stint on the Hill, Jeff spent nearly five years as director of government and external affairs at the Cato Institute, where he led and expanded the organization’s federal affairs team and operations. He created Cato’s highly successful congressional fellowship program—a concept he has replicated at R Street with a unique focus on specific policy areas including energy and environment and artificial intelligence. 

Jeff holds a master’s degree in government from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from California State University (CSU), Fullerton. In addition to writing on topics including the U.S. Constitution’s separation of powers, criminal justice policy, and the legislative process, he has served as an adjunct instructor for CSU’s D.C. Scholars program and at Northern Virginia Community College. 

He lives in Silver Spring, Maryland, with his wife and three sons.