More Senate confirmation officials left President Donald Trump’s second administration during his first 18 months in office than any other modern president during the same period, a new report finds.
An analysis by the Partnership for Public Service, a nonprofit organization that works to build better government and stronger democracies, found that 27 bureaucrats had left their Cabinet posts as of July 20 during President Trump’s second term. This is more than double the number at the same point in President Trump’s first term (11) and more than six times the average for former presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Biden has only been approved by the Senate for one official leave in his first 18 months as president.
The change in the Trump administration was an ongoing major news story during the first administration. Big news this term was the resignation of Kristi Noem, Pam Bondi, Lori Chavez Delemer, and Tulsi Gabbard from their respective Cabinet-level seats. But other retirees who have quietly risen to the top include deputy secretaries, department general counsels and assistant secretaries, among others, according to the nonprofit’s report.
Not all vacancies are filled with Senate oversight, according to the report.
There are many people leaving the club, but there are few nominations.
The 27 departures represent more than 11% of Senate-confirmed Cabinet staff, according to the nonprofit group, which tracks political appointees in the past three administrations based on news reports and other personnel information. The number of departures does not include officials appointed by the previous administration, U.S. attorneys, U.S. marshals or ambassadors.
In addition to high defection rates, the report also found that Trump has made fewer nominations so far in his term than any president since at least Ronald Reagan. The report said the lack of nominations could be due to understaffing in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel or to the president’s stated preference for acting officials during his first term.
Asked about the report’s findings, White House press secretary Olivia Wales praised the Trump administration and its work on the border, cutting taxes and reducing crime.
“The President and his entire administration will continue to tirelessly implement President Trump’s policies and deliver great results for the American people,” Wales wrote.
The Partnership for Public Services also said that turnover rates historically increase after the first 18 months. As a result, they argue, the balance of power changes.
“A personnel change of this scale not only thins out the leadership of the government, it also concentrates power in the hands of the president,” said report author Chris Piper. “Each seat left for an acting officer is a seat that the President may fill on his own terms without the advice or consent of the Senate, and there will be no review, no confirmation hearing, and no vote.”
An analysis by the Brookings Institution think tank found that President Trump, who has stepped back from positions that require Senate confirmation, has seen more turnover among key decision-makers in the White House during his first year in office than any other modern president, but that is appropriate for a first-term administration. In a notable change, Susie Wiles, the first-ever female chief of staff, has already surpassed all four people who held the position during President Trump’s first term, The Hill reported. She remained in the position even after her breast cancer diagnosis was announced in March.
Kinsey Crowley is a Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Please contact KCrowley@usatodayco.com. follow her X (Twitter), thread, blue sky and TikTok.
