A senior White House official has resigned as President Donald Trump’s decision to replace Susie Wiles with Stephen Miller as chief of staff triggers a wave of departures.
Meghan Bauer, who oversaw Cabinet affairs, stepped down on Wednesday.
Miller’s appointment immediately set off personnel changes throughout the administration, including at the highest levels of the White House.
Deputy Chief of Staff Richard Walters, a close ally of Wiles, had also resigned several days earlier.
Asked by reporters about the abrupt change in the Oval Office leadership team, Trump gave a brief explanation: “Sometimes you change.”
At least six officials have so far left their positions across the administration.
The first was Harmeet Dhillon, who resigned as head of the Justice Department’s civil rights division. She became the first senior Trump administration official to leave after Democrats’ historic victories in the midterm elections. Dhillon said she had requested to resign weeks earlier but was asked to remain until after the elections.
A former Republican Party official and attorney for Trump’s campaign, Dhillon was chosen by the president for the position after his 2024 election victory.
Three other Justice Department officials resigned soon afterward: Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg; Jason Reding Quinones, a prominent federal prosecutor involved in several major cases during the first two years of Trump’s second administration; and Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate, who led the department’s Civil Division.
Attorney Harmeet Dhillon speaks at a Turning Point USA event in 2022. She was the first senior Trump official to resign following Democrats’ historic victories in the House and Senate.
A major White House leadership transition has prompted a series of departures after President Donald Trump replaced Chief of Staff Susie Wiles with his top immigration adviser, Stephen Miller.
Walters was next, submitting his resignation on Friday shortly after Miller’s promotion became public.
He had worked alongside Wiles as one of her closest advisers for more than a decade.
In public statements, Walters praised the administration and its work.
“Serving President Trump has been the honor of a lifetime, and I will always be thankful to Susie Wiles for the opportunity,” he said in a statement. “Stephen is building an incredible and capable team to implement the President’s agenda, and I look forward to being part of it from the outside.”
A veteran Republican strategist, Walters had held the deputy chief of staff role since May. Before that, he led the inaugural committee for Trump and Vice President Vance.
“I love my Cabinet. I think they’re good. But I’ll be doing maybe a few changes. I don’t want to mention who,” Trump told 60 Minutes in an interview after Wiles was dismissed.
Deputy Chief of Staff Richard Walters was among the first officials to step down, resigning on Friday shortly after Miller’s promotion was announced.
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A White House spokesperson confirmed that Cabinet Secretary Meghan Bauer, who oversees President Trump’s Cabinet, is leaving her position.
A White House spokesperson confirmed that Bauer, who is responsible for managing Trump’s Cabinet, is stepping down.
“Meghan Bauer is a valuable part of the team and will continue to work in the White House in a new role,” spokesperson Allison Schuster said.
White House insiders said Trump’s dissatisfaction with Bauer had grown in recent months, prompting him to consult senior advisers about arranging her departure.
Bauer’s work with Trump stretches back to his 2016 presidential campaign and his first term in office. She held scheduling roles before becoming a senior policy adviser at the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
The mother of two is expected to remain in place for several months to help with the transition.
Her responsibilities included arranging Cabinet secretaries’ meetings with the president, media interviews and travel logistics.
Bauer’s departure is part of a wider pattern of female officials in Trump’s orbit leaving the administration.
Veteran Republican strategist Richard Walters had held the position since May. Before taking the role, he directed the inaugural committee for Trump and Vice President Vance.
Miller’s appointment immediately led to significant personnel changes throughout the administration.
Bauer, who leads the Office of Cabinet Affairs, is expected to leave the White House at the end of the year.
Other rumored Cabinet changes involve Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. Trump has repeatedly defended Hegseth and said he is doing a “great job” when questioned by reporters.
Bauer’s resignation follows the departures of several other senior female officials, including Wiles, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer.
“I love my Cabinet. I think they’re good. But I’ll be doing maybe a few changes. I don’t want to mention who,” Trump told 60 Minutes just hours after Wiles was dismissed.
One rumored Cabinet change involves Hegseth, reportedly over his guidance on the Iran war. Trump, however, has repeatedly defended him and said he is doing a “great job.”
Morgan DeWitt-Snow, the 29-year-old de facto head of the Presidential Personnel Office, is also reportedly facing uncertainty in her position. She is a known protégé of Wiles.
Like Walters, DeWitt-Snow is among the officials whose loyalty Trump is re-evaluating as he scrutinizes members of his administration, many of whom strongly supported Wiles.