The current Trump administration has experienced reduced high-level staff and cabinet turnover during its first year compared to the same period in his first presidency. This is based on an analysis by Kathryn Dunn Tenpas of the Brookings Institution.
A celebratory event marked the November swearing-in of Sergio Gor as the new ambassador to India. Gor, a former top aide, had been responsible for selecting staff for the second-term White House.
Tenpas's analysis indicates a departure from the frequent staff changes observed in the first term. In 2017, the Trump administration had turnover in two cabinet positions and 35% of senior staff posts. In the current term, there has been no cabinet-level turnover and senior staff turnover is recorded at 29%. For consistency, cabinet positions in the analysis are limited to officials in the presidential line of succession.
Historically, the average high-level staff turnover in the first year for the six presidents prior to Trump was approximately 10%. While the current administration's 29% turnover remains higher than this average, it represents a notable decrease from its own first term.
The nature of departures has also shifted. In 2017, numerous individuals were removed from their roles. This term, most departures have resulted from promotions, such as Gor's ambassadorial appointment. There have been fewer resignations under pressure in the first year of the current term compared to 2017.
High-profile aides such as Reince Priebus, Steve Bannon, and Sean Spicer departed in 2017. Current departures involve influential individuals who are not widely recognized public figures, contributing to a reduction in personnel drama.
Former members of the first Trump administration suggest that the current approach reflects a learned preference for loyalists. The emphasis on loyalty in hiring is identified as a factor contributing to increased stability and reduced internal conflict.
A notable share of the departures this term has been from the National Security Council (NSC) staff. Former National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, involved in the "Signal-gate" incident, was promoted to US ambassador to the United Nations rather than being dismissed. Waltz was succeeded by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has held the additional role for over eight months.
A White House official, speaking on background, stated that the substantial reduction in NSC staffing over the past year is a strategic "right sizing" intended to establish a more top-down foreign policy process. The Brookings data does not include turnover among career officials in other government departments, such as the State, Justice, or Defense Departments, which have also experienced staff changes.