Trump Caps Two Years with Historic Administration Turnover
Two years after his inauguration, President Donald Trump has seen far more departures of his top staff than other recent presidents.
It’s common for a trickle of White House and cabinet officials to leave their positions at the end of two years: By this time in 2003, six original members of President George W. Bush’s top White House staff had announced their departures, as had 11 members of President Barack Obama’s staff in 2011, a few of whom left at the end of his second year to run his re-election campaign.
But departures in the Trump administration occurred early and often. By contrast, 19 of Trump’s original White House inner circle have left or announced they would leave the administration. Many top aides who succeeded original staff have also left. About half—11—of Trump’s original cabinet and cabinet-level staff have left or announced their departure, compared to just two each for both Obama and Bush.
Trump’s top White House aides
Departed or announced departure
Still in position
Trump’s original White House inner circle was larger than his predecessors,’ and that number only grew as turnover continued at a steady churn. John Bolton is Trump’s third national security adviser, following Michael Flynn and H.R. McMaster. Bill Shine is the fourth director of communications after Mike Dubke, Anthony Scaramucci and Hope Hicks held the role.
Trump’s cabinet and cabinet-level positions weren’t immune to turnover, either. The totals are magnified by Trump’s tendency to fill a vacancy with an existing member of his cabinet or White House staff. For example, Trump chose CIA director Mike Pompeo to take over as secretary of state after he fired Rex Tillerson.
Cabinet and top-level department head departures
Trump administration in January 2019