The Climate Policy Office has its roots in the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy, which was established under the administration of Barack Obama in 2008 but was folded into the United States Domestic Policy Council in 2011 after Congress refused to fund the office.

On December 14, 2020, it was announced that Gina McCarthy, the former administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under President Barack Obama, would serve as the first national climate advisor, as well as chair of the National Climate Task Force.

[7] On 16 September 2022, Ali Zaidi was promoted to assistant to the president and national climate advisor.

[8] However, the leadership of the Task Force was reshuffled, with the Senior Advisor for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation becoming chair and National Climate Advisor moved to vice-chair.

[9] President Trump, by rescinding the establishing executive order abolished the Office of domestic climate policy.