Katie Zacharia is an American attorney, political strategist, communications executive and media commentator whose career has moved across several professional fields, including international law, nonprofit leadership, political advocacy, television commentary and government communications.
Her public profile expanded significantly through appearances on major American news networks, while her legal background has remained a central part of her professional identity. In 2026, she also entered federal government service as a spokesperson and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security before leaving the position several weeks later.
Today, Zacharia’s professional profile combines legal expertise, public affairs, strategic communications and media work.
Who Is Katie Zacharia?
Katie Zacharia is a lawyer and public-affairs professional associated with California and national political and media discussions.
Her professional biography describes experience in government, law, communications, public affairs and nonprofit advancement. She has appeared as a commentator on networks including Fox News, Newsmax, OANN and CNN, while also writing political commentary.
She is also a graduate of Pepperdine University and Pepperdine Caruso School of Law. Pepperdine records identify her as Katie S. Zacharia (’07, JD ’11) and list her as a member of the school’s Dean’s Council.
Katie Zacharia Career at a Glance
| Career Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Profession | Attorney, communications executive, political strategist and media commentator |
| Undergraduate education | Pepperdine University |
| Law degree | Pepperdine Caruso School of Law |
| Undergraduate graduation | 2007 |
| Law graduation | 2011 |
| Early legal experience | Federal judicial clerkship and corporate/international law |
| International experience | Beijing, China |
| International legal work | Zhong Lun Law Firm |
| Organizations advised | World Bank and International Finance Corporation |
| Pepperdine role | Development and advancement work |
| Fix California | General Counsel / Chief Advancement Officer |
| Media work | Fox News, Newsmax and other outlets |
| DHS role | Spokesperson and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs |
| DHS tenure | February-March 2026 |
| Current professional focus | Communications, public affairs, legal and media work |
Education and Early Career
Zacharia’s professional path began with her education at Pepperdine University.
She graduated from Pepperdine’s Seaver College in 2007 before continuing to Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctor in 2011. Pepperdine’s own records confirm both degrees and identify her as a member of the school’s Dean’s Council.
During her university years, Zacharia participated in student leadership and campus organizations. Her professional biographies also describe work as a research assistant and other university-related roles.
Her legal education subsequently became the foundation for a career that would extend well beyond traditional legal practice.
Federal Judicial Clerkship
After completing law school, Zacharia gained experience within the federal judicial system through a clerkship at the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
A judicial clerkship typically involves legal research, analysis and assistance with judicial opinions and case preparation. For Zacharia, the experience added a judicial component to her legal background before she moved into corporate and international law.
Her professional biographies identify the federal clerkship as an early stage in her legal career.
International Legal Career in Beijing
One of the more distinctive stages of Zacharia’s career came when she moved to Beijing, China.
She worked with Zhong Lun Law Firm, where Pepperdine records later identified her as a former associate. Her professional biography says her work included serving as outside counsel to the World Bank and International Finance Corporation in Beijing.
This period gave Zacharia experience in international corporate law and cross-border professional work.
During the same general period, her biographies also associate her with nonprofit work involving fundraising and communications for an organization focused on migrant children’s education.
The combination of international law and nonprofit work became an important part of the broader career that followed.
Return to the United States and Pepperdine
After her time in China, Zacharia returned to the United States and continued working in nonprofit advancement and communications.
She later held development-related positions at Pepperdine University, where her work involved fundraising, donor relations and institutional advancement.
Her connection with Pepperdine continued beyond employment. She remains associated with the university’s Caruso School of Law through its Dean’s Council. Pepperdine’s current council listing identifies her as a political strategist.
Political Advocacy and Fix California
Another major stage of Zacharia’s career developed through political advocacy and public affairs.
She became associated with Fix California, an organization focused on California political reform and election-related issues. Her current professional biography identifies her as General Counsel and Chief Advancement Officer for the organization.
Through this work, Zacharia became increasingly involved in political communication and public commentary.
Her legal background gave her a foundation for discussing legislation, election rules and government policy, while her communications work expanded her public-facing role.
California Globe also identifies her as a legal and political strategist and notes her experience in political advocacy, international corporate law and nonprofit work.
Transition Into Television and Media
Zacharia’s career eventually expanded from political and legal work into television commentary.
She became a recurring guest and commentator on news programs, particularly on Fox News and Newsmax. IMDb records television appearances in which she was credited as a legal and political strategist or political consultant.
Her media work has covered subjects connected to law, politics, elections, government and public affairs.
The move into television did not replace her legal background. Instead, it became another avenue through which she applied that background to public discussions.
Her professional website currently describes her as a legal executive, public-affairs leader, speaker and media commentator, emphasizing the overlap between her legal and communications experience.
Katie Zacharia and the Department of Homeland Security
One of the most significant developments in Zacharia’s career came in February 2026, when she joined the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Reuters reported on February 17 that Zacharia would join DHS as a spokesperson following changes in the department’s public-affairs leadership.
She subsequently served as Spokesperson and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs.
The position placed her inside the federal government after years of working in law, political advocacy and media.
Her DHS tenure, however, was short.
Why Did Katie Zacharia Leave DHS?
Zacharia announced her departure from DHS in early April 2026, only weeks after joining the department.
In explaining her decision, she said the demands of traveling between California and Washington, D.C., had placed a strain on her family. She also said she intended to continue supporting the administration’s priorities in other capacities.
The short tenure generated media attention because of the timing of her departure.
Zacharia also rejected reports that suggested another DHS personnel matter was responsible for her resignation, saying that family and travel considerations were behind her decision.
Return to Media and Communications
After leaving DHS, Zacharia returned to media commentary and strategic communications.
Her current professional website says she was appointed Senior Communications Advisor at Trump Media & Technology Group and Truth Social in 2026. It also continues to identify her as General Counsel and Chief Advancement Officer at Fix California.
Her current work therefore brings together several areas that have characterized her career for years:
- Legal analysis
- Strategic communications
- Public affairs
- Political commentary
- Organizational advancement
- Media appearances
- Crisis communication
Her professional website also lists speaking and media commentary as part of her current activities.
Katie Zacharia’s Career Timeline
2007: Graduated from Pepperdine University.
2011: Earned a Juris Doctor from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law.
Early legal career: Completed a federal judicial clerkship and moved into legal practice.
2011-2013 period: Worked in Beijing with Zhong Lun Law Firm and handled international legal work involving organizations including the World Bank and IFC, according to professional biographies and Pepperdine records.
Following years: Expanded into nonprofit development, fundraising and communications.
Pepperdine: Worked in development and advancement while maintaining ties to the university.
2024: Became associated with Fix California in senior legal and advancement capacities.
2024-2026: Expanded her television profile through appearances on Fox News, Newsmax and other media outlets.
February 2026: Joined the Department of Homeland Security as spokesperson and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs.
April 2026: Announced her departure from DHS after several weeks in the role.
2026: Returned to communications and media work, with her professional website identifying her as a Senior Communications Advisor at Trump Media & Technology Group and Truth Social.
What Is Katie Zacharia Known For?
Katie Zacharia’s career is notable for the range of sectors in which she has worked.
Rather than remaining exclusively in legal practice, she moved through international law, nonprofit advancement, political advocacy, television commentary and federal public affairs.
Her international legal experience provided one professional foundation, while her later work in communications and political advocacy brought her into national media.
Her short period at DHS added government communications experience to an already varied résumé.
Katie Zacharia’s Professional Background
The clearest way to understand Zacharia’s career is through the combination of law and communications.
Her legal education and international legal work gave her experience in legal analysis. Her nonprofit and advancement positions added fundraising and organizational experience. Her political advocacy work brought her deeper into public affairs, while television gave her a national platform.
Her 2026 DHS appointment represented a move from commenting on government and political issues to working directly within a federal public-affairs operation.
Following her departure from DHS, she returned to the communications and media sphere.
As of 2026, her public professional profile therefore spans several interconnected areas rather than one conventional job category.
Disclaimer: This biography focuses on publicly documented aspects of Katie Zacharia’s professional career. Some online biographies contain conflicting personal or employment details, so information that could not be adequately corroborated has been excluded or described cautiously. Political positions and affiliations mentioned in this article are presented descriptively and are not endorsements or evaluations.
SEO Focus Keyword: Katie Zacharia career
Secondary Keywords: Katie Zacharia Wikipedia, Katie Zacharia biography, Katie Zacharia career, Katie Zacharia education, Katie Zacharia lawyer, Katie Zacharia DHS, Katie Zacharia Fox News, Katie Zacharia Fix California, Katie Zacharia Trump Media, Katie Zacharia Truth Social, Katie Zacharia legal career, Katie Zacharia government career