Trump White House seeks to limit staff who have direct access to the president

Source: NBC News

Jan. 7, 2025, 11:11 AM EST


PALM BEACH, Fla. — The number of individuals with direct access to the president will be more limited when Donald Trump takes office in two weeks, as incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles seeks to streamline the new West Wing operation.

In an effort to tighten the lines of communication with Trump, the transition team is cutting back on the number of top White House staff members given the designation of “assistant to the president,” which provides a staffer the privilege of walking into the Oval Office and bringing nonstaff guests in to meet with the president.

“There will be a limited number of assistants to the president,” said a person familiar with the transition. Trump’s newly named legislative affairs director and political affairs director are among those not given the title; those positions typically have that designation.

Instead, the senior staff of the incoming White House is seeking to direct the flow of information to Trump, primarily through its deputy chiefs of staff, including his longtime trusted aides Stephen Miller, Taylor Budowich and Dan Scavino.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-white-house-limit-staff-direct-access-president-rcna186552