Stability and Loyalty: A Look at Staff Turnover in Trump's Second Term
The Oval Office was filled with celebration as Sergio Gor was sworn in as the new ambassador to India. Gor, a key figure in selecting staff for Trump's second term, was now receiving a promotion. Jeanine Pirro, a former Fox News personality and US attorney, praised Gor's loyalty and expressed admiration for Trump in the room.
Compared to Trump's first term, the second term has seen a significant decrease in high-level staff and cabinet turnover. According to a new analysis by Brookings Institution visiting fellow Kathryn Dunn Tenpas, turnover in cabinet positions and senior staff posts has been lower this time around. In 2017, there was turnover in two cabinet positions and 35% of senior staff posts, while now there has been no cabinet turnover and senior staff turnover is at 29%.
Tenpas noted that the nature of departures has also changed. In the first term, many staff members were fired abruptly, but this time around, departures have mostly been due to promotions. The emphasis on loyalty in hiring has led to a more stable environment with less drama and infighting.
The departures in the current term have mostly been from the National Security Council staff, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, who was promoted to US ambassador to the United Nations. The NSC staff departures reflect a larger shedding of staff assigned to the National Security Council, as part of a strategic choice to create a more top-down foreign policy process.
Overall, the second term of the Trump administration has seen a decrease in high-level staff turnover, with a focus on loyalty and stability. The emphasis on promoting loyalists and reducing personnel drama has contributed to a more cohesive team working closely with Trump on his political agenda.