Steinberg served as the U.S. State Department's director of policy planning (1994–1996), then as deputy national security advisor (December 1996–2001) to President Bill Clinton.
Steinberg's career included significant leadership roles, first as director of policy planning for the U.S. State Department from 1994 to 1996, and then as deputy national security advisor under President Bill Clinton from December 1996 until 2001.