Rachel MacKey

Rachel MacKey is the current Legislative Director for Human Services & Education, Veterans & Military Services at the National Association of Counties. Prior to their current position, Rachel was the Director of Policy and Research at First Focus from July 2017 to November 2019. In this role, Rachel was responsible for advancing federal budget and appropriations, family tax, and child hunger policy goals in Congress and the Executive Branch. This included managing and recruiting members for the Children’s Budget Coalition of 75 organizations, providing education and policy support to partners and Congressional offices, writing and gathering support for sign-on letters, and hosting Congressional briefings. Rachel also redesigned and implemented the collection and analysis of federal spending data for over 180 programs as an editor of the signature Children’s Budget Book publication. In addition to their policy work, Rachel also built support for policy priorities amongst partners, stakeholders, and the public through developing data visualization for First Focus publications, writing fact sheets, policy briefs, and blog posts, giving panel presentations, and representing First Focus on coalitions related to health and education funding, tax policy, and food and nutrition.

Rachel Mackey has a Masters in Public Policy Analysis from Georgetown University, a B.A. in Public Policy Studies from Duke University, and has studied British Politics at the University of Glasgow.

They are on a team with Eryn Hurley - Director, Government Affairs & Federal Fellowship Initiative, Michael Matthews - Legislative Director, Community, Economic & Workforce Development, and Julia Cortina - Legislative Associate. and Brayden Cohen - Legislative Assistant reports to Rachel MacKey. Rachel MacKey reports to Mark Ritacco, Chief Government Affairs Officer.