On Thursday, amid reports of his involvement in Trump’s conversation with Ukraine’s president, Energy Secretary Rick Perry announced he would step down by the end of this year; this news comes just one week after acting Homeland Security Secretary, Kevin McAleenan, also resigned—which got us thinking: Just how many other aides and cabinet members have departed while serving under President Trump?
Well, a lot. Trump’s cabinet likely has a higher turnover rate than any other U.S. president in history. In case you need a recap, below you’ll find a timeline of several major departures during the Trump Administration, beginning with the most recent politicians’ exits.
Rick Perry
Role: Energy Secretary
Date: Resigned in October 2019 (though it isn’t known when he will officially step down).
Reported reason: Unclear, though Trump has responded to his resignation by stating that Perry has “got some very big plans.”
Kevin McAleenan
Role: Acting Homeland Security Secretary
Date: Resigned in October 2019
Reported reason: “Personal and family reasons.”
John Bolton
Role: National Security Adviser
Date: Fired in September 2019.
Reported reason: “I disagreed strongly with many of his suggestions, as did others in the administration,” Trump tweeted, “and therefore, I asked John for his resignation, which was given to me this morning.”
Jason Green
Role: Special Envoy to the Middle East
Date: Resigned in September 2019.
Reported reason: Will move back to New Jersey to spend time with family.
Dan Coats
Role: Intelligence Chief
Date: Resigned in August 2019 (though it was rumored he would leave earlier).
Reported reason: Unclear. “As we have previously discussed, I believe it is time for me to move on to the next chapter of my life,” Coats wrote in his resignation letter, addressed to the president.
Alex Acosta
Role: Labor Secretary
Date: Resigned in July 2019.
Reported reason: According to a tweet, President Trump said Acosta resigned over ongoing controversy surrounding Acosta’s handling of an investigation into Jeffrey Epstein in 2008. “He felt the constant drumbeat of press about a prosecution which took place under his watch more than 12 years ago was bad for the Administration, which he so strongly believes in, and he graciously tendered his resignation …,” Trump wrote.
Mercedes Schlapp
Role: White House Communications Director
Date: Resigned in July 2019.
Reported reason: Joined Trump’s re-election campaign.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Role: White House Press Secretary
Date: Resigned in June 2019.
Reported reason: Unclear, though, during a White House event, she did not rule out the possibility of a political career in her home state of Arkansas. On Twitter, Trump also urged her to run for governor.
Patrick Shanahan
Role: Acting Secretary of Defense
Date: Withdrew from the confirmation process in June 2019.
Reported reason: In June, the Washington Post reported on a November 2011 dispute in which Shanahan’s son violently attacked the Defense Secretary’s ex-wife. “After having been confirmed for Deputy Secretary less than two years ago, it is unfortunate that a painful and deeply personal family situation from long ago is being dredged up and painted in an incomplete and therefore misleading way in the course of this process,” Shanahan wrote in his resignation letter. “I believe my continuing in the confirmation process would force my three children to relive a traumatic chapter in our family’s life and reopen wounds we have worked years to heal.”
Shahira Knight
Role: White House Legislative Affairs Director
Date: Resigned in May 2019.
Reported reason: In a tweet, Trump implied she would be resigning to work in the “private sector.” (This later turned out to be a bank lobbying group.)
Rod J. Rosenstein
Role: Deputy Attorney General
Date: Resigned in May 2019.
Reported reason: Unclear, though Trump had allegedly expressed wanting him removed as early as January 2018; according to a report by CNN, Trump was frustrated with his oversight of the Russia investigation.
Randolph D. Alles
Role: Secret Service Director
Date: Resigned in April 2019.
Reported reason: Unclear. He also disputes claims that he was fired.
Kirstjen Nielsen
Role: Homeland Security Secretary
Date: Resigned in March-April 2019.
Reported reason: Unclear. “… I have determined that it is the right time for me to step aside.”
Heather Wilson
Role: Air Force Secretary
Date: Resigned in March 2019.
Report: Became president of the University of Texas at El Paso.
Bill Shine
Role: White House Communications Director
Date: Resigned in March 2019.
Reported reason: Became senior adviser on Trump’s re-election campaign.
Linda McMahon
Role: Small Business Administrator
Date: Resigned in March 2019.
Reported reason: Became chair of Chairman of America First Action, a pro-Trump PAC.
Scott Gottlieb
Role: F.D.A. Chief
Date: Resigned in March 2019.
Reported reason: Unclear, though personal reasons may have contributed.
Brock Long
Role: FEMA Administrator
Date: Resigned in February-March 2019.
Reported reason: Unclear, though Long had resigned while facing criticism over his use of government vehicles for personal use. In a statement to the Washington Post, a FEMA Press Secretary disputes this as the cause for his departure. “It honestly has nothing to do with the travel issue,” they said. “He’s been away from his family for a long time. And he’s chosen this moment to make sure the new administrator has enough time to prepare for upcoming hurricane season before it hits.”
Raj Shah
Role: White House Deputy Press Secretary
Date: Resigned in January 2019.
Reported reason: Joined a lobbying firm.
Zachary Fuentes
Role: Deputy Chief of Staff
Date: Resigned in January 2019.
Reported reason: Unclear. (A December 2018 New York Times story also reported that Fuentes tried to take advantage of an early retirement program and stay on the payroll after his resignation.)
Justin Clark
Role: Office of Public Liaison Director
Date: Resigned in December 2018.
Reported reason: Joined Trump’s re-election campaign.
Ryan Zinke
Role: Interior Secretary
Date: Resigned in December 2018.
Reported reason: During his term as Interior Secretary, Zinke faced several accusations of having conducted illegal, personal business dealings. “I love working for the President and am incredibly proud of all the good work we’ve accomplished together,” Zinke said in a statement regarding his resignation. “However, after 30 years of public service, I cannot justify spending thousands of dollars defending myself and my family against false allegations.”
James Mattis
Role: Secretary of Defense
Date: Resigned in December 2018.
Reported reason: “Because you have the right to have a Secretary of Defense whose views are better aligned with yours on these and other subjects, I believe it is right for me to step down from my position.” (Reportedly, Mattis resigned in protest over Trump’s decision to withdraw American forces from Syria.)
Nick Ayers
Role: Chief of Staff to Vice President Mike Pence
Date: Resigned in December 2018.
Reported reason: Unclear. (He also reportedly turned down an offer to become Trump’s Chief of Staff.
Jordan Karem
Role: Director of Oval Office Operations
Date: Resigned in November-December 2018.
Reported reason: Unclear.
Jeff Sessions
Role: Attorney General
Date: “Resigned” in November 2018.
Reported reason: Because Trump asked him to step down. Trump had repeatedly criticized Sessions in several public forums before his resignation, including on Twitter. Most notably, in several tweets, he implied that Session’s recusal from investigations into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election was a “betrayal” and blamed the continuing investigation on him.
Mira Ricardel
Role: Deputy National Security Council Adviser.
Date: Fired in November 2018.
Reported reason: Unclear, though a spokesperson for First Lady Melania Trump had publicly called for her firing.
Don McGahn
Role: White House Counsel
Date: Resigned in October 2018.
Reported reason: Unclear. In a May 2019 tweet, however, Trump said he was “never a big fan” of McGahn, related to his involvement as a witness in Robert Mueller’s investigation.
Nikki Haley
Role: U.N. Ambassador
Date: Resigned in October 2018.
Reported reason: In a press conference, Trump said Haley had wanted to take “a little time off.”
Scott Pruitt
Role: EPA Administrator
Date: Resigned in July 2018.
Reported reason: Before his resignation, Pruitt faced criticism over several accusations of ethics controversies. In his resignation letter, Pruitt said these investigations forced him to resign. “… the unrelenting attacks on me personally, my family, are unprecedented and have taken a sizable toll on all of us,” he wrote.
Marc Short
Role: White House Legislative Affairs Director
Date: Resigned in July 2018.
Reported reason: Joined a consulting firm. Has since returned to the White House as Vice President Mike Pence’s Chief of Staff.
Joseph Hagin
Role: Deputy Chief of Staff
Date: Resigned in June 2018.
Reported reason: White House officials told the New York Times he planned to retire from the federal government and “return to the private sector.”
Tom Homan
Role: Acting I.C.E. Director
Date: Resigned in June 2018.
Reported reason: Retirement.
Ty Cobb
Role: White House Special Counsel.
Date: Resigned in May 2018.
Reported reason: “For several weeks Ty Cobb has been discussing his retirement, and last week he let Chief of Staff [John] Kelly know he would retire at the end of this month,” Sanders said in a statement regarding Cobb’s exit.
Mike Pompeo
Role: CIA Director
Date: Left in April-May 2018.
Reported reason: Appointed Secretary of State.
Ricky Waddell
Role: Deputy National Security Adviser
Date: Resigned in April 2018.
Reported reason: Unclear, though he was the fourth official among the National Security Council to depart as John Bolton took over.
Nadia Schadlow
Role: Deputy National Security Adviser for Strategy
Date: Resigned in April 2018.
Reported reason: Unclear, though she was another official among the National Security Council to depart as John Bolton took over.
Thomas P. Bossert
Role: Homeland Security Adviser
Date: Resigned in April 2018.
Reported reason: Unclear. He was another official among the National Security Council to depart as John Bolton took over.
Michael Anton
Role: National Security Council Spokesperson
Date: Resigned in April 2018.
Reported reason: Unclear. He was another official among the National Security Council to depart as John Bolton took over.
Hope Hicks
Role: White House Communications Director
Date: Resigned in March 2018.
Reported reason: Unclear, though according to the New York Times’ Maggie Haberman, she had been planning her exit for months (despite only having served as Communications Director for six months).
David Shulkin
Role: Veterans Affairs Secretary
Date: Fired in March 2018. (Shulkin maintains that he was fired, while the White House claimed he resigned.)
Reported reason: Shulkin claims it was because of his opposition to the privatization of Veterans Affairs.
Rex Tillerson
Role: Secretary of State
Date: Fired in March 2018.
Reported reason: According to a senior aide, Trump “thought it was the right time for the transition with the upcoming North Korea talks and various trade negotiations.”
H.R. McMaster
Role: National Security Adviser
Date: Resigned in March 2018.
Reported reason: According to a White House official, McMaster’s exit was conceived by both himself and Trump and “was not related to any one moment or incident; rather it was the result of ongoing conversations between the two.” Shortly thereafter, he was replaced by John Bolton.
Rick Dearborn
Role: White House Deputy Chief of Staff
Date: Resigned in March 2018.
Reported reason: Joined a consulting firm.
Andrew McCabe
Role: F.B.I. Director
Date: Fired in March 2018.
Reported reason: Claims it was a “retaliation” by President Trump and has since filed a lawsuit against the Department of Justice. “It was Trump’s unconstitutional plan and scheme to discredit and remove DOJ and FBI employees who were deemed to be his partisan opponents because they were not politically loyal to him,” his lawsuit read.
John McEntee
Role: Personal aide
Date: Fired in March 2018.
Reported Reason: Was under investigation by Homeland Security for alleged financial crimes.
Gary Cohn
Role: White House National Economic Council Director
Date: Resigned in March 2018.
Reported Reason: Unclear, though Cohn’s opposition against stiff tariffs (which Trump favored) may have contributed.
Rachel Brand
Role: Associate Attorney General
Date: Resigned in February 2018.
Reported reason: Joined Walmart’s executive team.
Rob Porter
Role: White House Staff Secretary
Date: Resigned in February 2018.
Reported reason: Unclear, though he resigned one day after accusations of abuse by two of his former wives.
Josh Raffel
Role: Deputy Communications Director
Date: Resigned in February 2018.
Reported reason: “Family obligations” and plans to reenter the private sector, as the Washington Post noted.
David Sorensen
Role: White House Speechwriter
Date: Resigned in February 2018.
Reported reason: Unclear, but resigned shortly after allegations of domestic abuse by his ex-wife. (He has denied these claims.)
Jeremy Katz
Role: White House National Economic Council Deputy Director
Date: Resigned in January 2018.
Reported reason: In a report by the Washington Post, an official claimed he had only intended to stay in his role for a year.
Brenda Fitzgerald
Role: CDC Director
Date: Resigned in January 2018.
Reported reason: Unclear, though she resigned one day after a report by Politico which exposed that she had traded tobacco stocks while promoting anti-smoking efforts as C.D.C. director.
Omarosa Manigault Newman
Role: Director of Communications for the Office of Public Liaison
Date: Fired in December 2017.
Reported reason: Unclear, though in a story by Politico, officials claim it was due to her abuse of the White House car service.
Dina Powell
Role: Deputy National Security Adviser for Strategy
Date: Resigned in December 2017.
Reported reason: Sanders claimed she had only planned to assume the role for one year.
Keith Schiller
Role: Director of Oval Office Operations
Date: Resigned in September 2017.
Reported reason: Sources told CNN “income concerns.” John Kelly’s appointment to Chief of Staff may have also played a role.
Tom Price
Role: Health and Human Services Secretary
Date: Resigned in September 2017.
Reported reason: Before his resignation, Trump was “not happy” with Price for his use of private flights for official business. “I regret that the recent events have created a distraction from these important objectives,” Price wrote in his resignation letter. “Success on these issues is more important than any one person. In order for you to move forward without further disruption, I am officially tendering my resignation …”
Stephen Bannon
Role: Chief Strategist
Date: Resigned in August 2017.
Reported reason: Unclear, though according to CNN, the firing had been planned due to growing tension between the president and Bannon (as well as John Kelly’s recent arrival in the White House).
George Sifakis
Role: Office of Public Liaison Director
Date: Resigned in August 2017.
Reported reason: Unclear.
Carl Icahn
Role: Special Adviser
Date: Resigned in August 2017.
Reported reason: Before his resignation, potential questions of conflicts of interest arose. In his resignation letter, Icahn clarified that he did “not have a formal position” with Trump’s Administration. “Nevertheless, I chose to end this arrangement (with your blessing) because I did not want partisan bickering about my role…,” he wrote.
Sebastian Gorka
Role: Deputy Assistant
Date: “Resigned” in August 2017 (though White House officials say he was forced out).
Reported reason: In a “resignation letter” obtained by the Federalist, Gorka was allegedly unhappy with Trump Administration on foreign policy. “Regrettably, outside of yourself, the individuals who most embodied and represented the policies that will ‘Make America Great Again,’ have been internally countered, systematically removed, or undermined in recent month,” he wrote.
Anthony Scaramucci
Role: White House Communications Director
Date: Fired in July 2017.
Reported reason: John Kelly, then Chief of Staff, forced him out.
Sean Spicer
Role: White House Press Secretary
Date: Resigned in July 2017.
Reported reason: Apparently over a disagreement with President Trump over the hiring of Scaramucci.
John Kelly
Role: Homeland Security Secretary
Date: Left in July 2017.
Reported reason: Appointed White House Chief of Staff. (He later resigned from that role in December 2018.)
Reince Priebus
Role: White House Chief of Staff
Date: Fired in July 2017.
Reported reason: In a story by the New York Times, White House officials said President Trump had wanted to make a change. “The president has a right to change directions,” Priebus said in an interview later on CNN. “The president has a right to hit a reset button. I think it’s a good time to hit the reset button.”
Walter Shaub
Role: Government Ethics Director
Date: Resigned in July 2017.
Reported reason: Became an attorney at the Campaign Legal Center. In a statement to NPR, he claimed that the ethics program needed to be “stronger.”
Michael Dubke
Role: White House Communications Director
Date: Resigned in June 2017.
Reported reason: “Personal reasons.”
Josh Pitcock
Role: Chief of Staff to Vice President Mike Pence
Date: Resigned in July 2017.
Reported reason: Unclear, though in a New York Times story, individuals close to Pitcock claim he did not intend to stay in his role “beyond the summer.”
James Comey
Role: F.B.I. Director
Date: Fired in May 2017.
Reported reason: In a dismissal letter written by Trump, he claimed it was at the request of both the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General. (According to the Mueller Report, Trump was allegedly frustrated with Comey’s handling of an investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails and the Russia-probe.)
K.T. McFarland
Role: Deputy National Security Adviser
Date: “Resigned” in April 2017.
Reported reason: Was allegedly asked to step down and offered a role as U.S. ambassador to Singapore. (In February 2018, she withdrew her nomination as the Senate failed to bring it to a vote.)
Vivek Murthy
Role: Surgeon General
Date: “Resigned” in April 2017.
Reported reason: Was asked by the Trump Administration to step down. (Murthy was also an Obama appointee.)
Katie Walsh
Role: Deputy Chief of Staff
Date: Resigned in March 2017.
Reported reason: Became an adviser to a pro-Trump group.
Michael Flynn
Role: National Security Adviser
Date: Resigned in February 2017.
Reported reason: Trump said he fired Flynn “because he lied” to the F.B.I. over discussions he had with a Russian ambassador.
Sally Yates
Role: Deputy Attorney General
Date: Fired in January 2017.
Reported reason: Refusing to defend the travel ban. “Ms. Yates is an Obama Administration appointee who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration,” the White House said in a statement. “It is time to get serious about protecting our country. Calling for tougher vetting for individuals travelling from seven dangerous places is not extreme. It is reasonable and necessary to protect our country.”
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