Trump's Terms Less personnel drama but still sky-high turnover one year into Trump's new term
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Jan 20, 2026 
Tamara Keith, NPR's senior White House correspondent with a keen focus on staffing dynamics, discusses the significant changes in Trump's second term. She reveals that high-level turnover is down, with many departures now resulting from promotions rather than tumultuous firings. Keith highlights a striking 29% turnover rate among senior staff this year, a stark contrast to 2017. She also notes a strategic right-sizing of the National Security Council, suggesting a more stable administration despite the usual chaos associated with Trump.
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Senior Staff Turnover Has Declined
- Turnover in Trump's second term is lower than in his first, at about 29% for senior staff so far.
- Catherine Dunn-Tempest says that rate is still roughly triple the historical average going back to Reagan.
Oval Office Promotion Highlights Loyalty
- Tamara Keith recounts an Oval Office celebration where Sergio Gore was promoted after selecting staff for the second-term White House.
- Janine Pirro praised Gore's loyalty in that ceremony, illustrating a loyalty-focused staffing approach.
Aligned Staff Reduced Internal Conflict
- The second-term White House appears to be staffed by people who broadly agree with Trump and his agenda.
- That ideological alignment likely reduced internal conflict and public firings compared with the first term.