Tag: Trump White House turnover

You’re Hired! You’re Fired! Yes, the Turnover at the Top of the Trump Administration Is … “Unprecedented.”

The following article by Denise Lu and Karen Yourish was posted on the New York Times website August 29, 2018:

President Trump’s staff churn continued on Wednesday with Mr. Trump’s announcement on Twitter that the White House counsel, Donald F. McGahn II, will leave the administration this fall.

Some roles have been more volatile than others. For example, there have been four White House communications directors, with stints ranging from less than a week (Anthony Scaramucci) to more than six months (Hope Hicks). Sean Spicer, while serving as press secretary, filled the position twice — once in an acting capacity after Michael Dubke resigned.

The flurry of changes at the White House and cabinet level so early in a president’s administration is “unprecedented,” according to Max Stier, the president and chief executive of the Partnership for Public Service, a nonprofit organization that specializes in federal government management issues.

View the complete article here.

Trump’s brain drain

The following article by Jake Sherman, Anna Palmer and Daniel Lippman was posted on the Politico website August 30, 2018:

White House counsel Donald McGahn Credit: Andrew Harnik, AP

TRUMP’S EMPTYING WHITE HOUSE … DON MCGAHN is leaving. The Washington Post reported last night: “Three of McGahn’s deputies — Greg Katsas, Uttam Dhillon and Makan Delrahim — have departed, and a fourth, Stefan Passantino, will have his last day Friday. That leaves John Eisenberg, who handles national security, as the lone deputy counsel.” WaPo (By the way, why couldn’t Passantino hold on a few more months until he could say he’s leaving after the midterms?)

SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS — the marquee name in the president’s White House press shop — doesn’t seem to be far behind, according to reports. And it’s widely believed that JOHN KELLY could also head for the exits at some point, despite saying he will remain in the post through 2020. Not to mention a number of lower-level staffers who have already left the administration. Turnover, of course, is a natural part of any White House. These jobs are high-stress and require grueling hours.

WHAT’S DIFFERENT HERE is that unlike previous administrations, there isn’t an army of political operatives and top aides vying to replace the troops. Scores of top HOUSE REPUBLICAN aides are going to be looking for jobs soon, and we’ve only heard of a handful that are even willing to consider an administration job.

View the complete article here.