Monday, 18 Nov 2024

Fact box: Trump administration departures, firings, reassignments

WASHINGTON (REUTERS) – Acting US Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan has withdrawn from consideration to head the US military, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday (June 18), making Shanahan the latest of dozens of senior figures to leave the high-turnover Trump administration.

Trump’s White House has had the highest senior-level staff churn rate of the past five presidents, according to figures compiled by the Brookings Institution, a think tank.

Here are some notable Trump advisers who have been fired, quit or otherwise changed roles in the administration.

2019

Sarah Sanders: White House spokeswoman Sanders will leave her job at month’s end for a possible political future in her home state of Arkansas, Trump said on June 13.

Kevin Hassett: Trump said on June 3 that White House Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Hassett would leave his post.

Randolph “Tex” Alles: The head of the US Secret Service, left in May as part of a broader shake-up of the Department of Homeland Security. The White House chose James Murray, a career Secret Service agent, to take over.

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen: She resigned in April amid Trump’s rising anger at a surge in migrants crossing the US-Mexico border.

Linda McMahon: The Republican fundraiser was one of Trump’s first Cabinet picks. She served as director of the Small Business Administration until March, when she resigned to join Trump’s re-election campaign. Trump nominated US Treasurer Jovita Carranza to the position in April.

Clete Willems: A key figure in trade talks with China and a deputy to Trump’s top economic adviser, Larry Kudlow, Willems said in March he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Heather Wilson: The US Air Force secretary, once considered a top candidate to become defense secretary, decided to return to academia.

Bill Shine: Eight months after being hired as the White House communications director, he resigned to work on Trump’s re-election campaign. A source close to Trump said the president had lost confidence in the former Fox News executive.

2018

Jim Mattis: In a candid resignation letter that laid bare his growing divide with Trump over Syria and Afghanistan policies, the defence secretary abruptly quit, shocking allies and Congress. Shanahan, a former Boeing executive and Mattis’s deputy, took over in an acting capacity.


Former defence secretary Jim Mattis. PHOTO: AFP

Ryan Zinke: Trump’s first interior secretary left at the end of 2018 amid investigations into his use of security details, chartered flights and a real estate deal.

John Kelly: A retired Marine Corps general, Kelly was hired as White House chief of staff to bring order to the chaotic Trump White House but ultimately fell out with his boss. Trump named his budget director, Mick Mulvaney, to the job on an acting basis on Dec 14.

Jeff Sessions: The Republican former US senator was forced out as attorney general on Nov 7 after months of being attacked and ridiculed by the president for recusing himself from a special counsel investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. He was replaced briefly by Matthew Whitaker until William Barr was confirmed to the job.

Nikki Haley: The former South Carolina governor stepped down at the end of 2018 as US ambassador to the United Nations.

Trump first put forward State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert as her successor but she later withdrew. Trump has since nominated Republican donor and US Ambassador to Canada Kelly Craft for the position.

Don McGahn: Trump said in August the White House counsel would leave, amid strains between the two over the Russia probe.

Scott Pruitt: The Environmental Protection Agency chief quit in July under fire over a series of ethics controversies.

David Shulkin: White House officials said in March that the Veterans Affairs secretary would resign.

H.R. McMaster: The national security adviser was replaced in March by John Bolton.

Rex Tillerson: The secretary of state was fired by Trump in March after long-standing tension between them.


Former sectary of state Rex Tillerson. PHOTO: AFP

Gary Cohn: The National Economic Council director and former Goldman Sachs president said in March he would resign and Trump named Larry Kudlow to replace him.

Hope Hicks: The White House communications director, a long-serving and trusted Trump aide, resigned on Feb 28.

Rob Porter: The White House staff secretary resigned in February after accusations of domestic abuse from former wives.

2017

Omarosa Manigault Newman: The former reality TV star was fired as assistant to the president in December.

Tom Price: The Health and Human Services secretary quit under pressure from Trump on Sept. 29 over travel practices.

Stephen Bannon: Trump fired his chief strategist in mid-August after Bannon clashed with White House moderates.

Anthony Scaramucci: The White House communications director was fired by Trump in July after 10 days on the job.

Reince Priebus: Replaced as chief of staff by Kelly, Priebus lost Trump’s confidence after setbacks in Congress.

Sean Spicer: Resigned as White House press secretary in July, ending a turbulent tenure.


Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer. PHOTO: AFP

Michael Dubke: Resigned as White House communications director in May.

James Comey: The FBI director, who led the Russia probe before the special counsel was appointed, was fired by Trump in May.

Michael Flynn: Resigned in February as Trump’s national security adviser. Flynn later pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.

Sally Yates: Fired in January by Trump as acting attorney general.

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