A REVOLVING DOOR
By Charles Apple
The Spokesman-Review
By Charles Apple
The Spokesman-Review
Not only does President Donald Trump face dire reports of his financial status, stiff opposition from Democrats and ever-growing COVID-19 numbers, he has also dealt with turnover within his administration – the most turnover in the past 40 years, in fact.
Here’s a look at the numbers, as compiled by the Brookings Institution:
Trump saw five Cabinet-level appointees depart during his second year in office – the most since Year 3 of George H.W. Bush’s administration. This chart shows only the first four-year term of the four presidents who served two terms:
John F. Kelly
HOMELAND SECURITY
Departed: July 28, 2017
Promoted to White House Chief of Staff
Tom Price
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Departed: Sept. 29, 2017
Resigned under pressure
Rex Tillerson
SECRETARY OF STATE
Departed: March 13, 2018
Resigned under pressure
David Shulkin
VETERANS AFFAIRS
Departed: March 28, 2018
Resigned under pressure
Jeff Sessions
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Departed: Nov. 7, 2018
Resigned under pressure
Jim Mattis
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
Departed: Dec. 20, 2018
Protest resignation
Ryan Zinke
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
Departed: Dec. 15, 2018
Resigned under pressure
Kirstjen Nielsen
HOMELAND SECURITY
Departed: April 7, 2019
Resigned under pressure
Alex Acosta
SECRETARY OF LABOR
Departed: July 12, 2019
Resigned under pressure
Rick Perry
SECRETARY OF ENERGY
Departed: Oct. 17, 2019
Resigned
What’s more, at least 91 percent of Trump’s senior White House administrator positions have turned over at least once since he took office in 2017. Twenty-two of those were due to promotions, but 21 were resignations and 16 were resignations under pressure.
A number of White House leadership positions have turned over several times, researchers at the Brookings Institution say:
Positions have been filled 6 times
◼COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
◼DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER
Positions have been filled 5 times
◼DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF
◼NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR EUROPE AND RUSSIA
Positions have been filled 4 times
◼CHIEF OF STAFF
◼PRESS SECRETARY
◼DIRECTOR OF OVAL OFFICE OPERATIONS
◼DIRECTOR OF PRESIDENTIAL ADVANCE
◼NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER
◼PRESIDENTIAL ADVANCE/HOMELAND SECURITY AND COUNTERTERRORISM
◼EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
◼DEPUTY DIRECTOR, NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL
◼WHITE HOUSE DIRECTOR OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS
Positions have been filled 3 times
◼CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE VICE PRESIDENT
◼DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS
◼PRINCIPAL DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY
◼DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC LIAISON
◼DIRECTOR OF PRESIDENTIAL PERSONNEL
◼DEPUTY WHITE HOUSE COUNCIL
◼NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL SENIOR DIRECTOR OF INTELLIGENCE
◼NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR AFRICA
◼DOMESTIC POLICY COUNCIL DIRECTOR CHAIR, WHITE HOUSE
◼COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC ADVISERS
Sources: The Brookings Institution, Time magazine, Axios.com, NBC News, Government Executive, Politico, NPR, BBC, Politifact | ALL PHOTOS FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS