Overview
- An analysis by the Partnership for Public Service found 27 Senate-confirmed Cabinet department officials left during the administration’s first 18 months, a far higher count than recent presidencies.
- Departed officials served an average of about eight months, and roughly 30% waited longer for Senate confirmation than they actually spent on the job.
- The departures reflect firings, voluntary resignations and transfers to other posts, with named examples including the firings of Navy Secretary John Phelan and CDC Director Susan Monarez and the resignation of Tulsi Gabbard.
- The administration has submitted relatively few nominations overall — 578 since inauguration and 126 so far this year — leaving many roles unfilled and slowing Senate-confirmed staffing.
- Brookings and other analysts say the fast turnover concentrates decision-making gaps in agencies, which could weaken policy implementation, stretch career staff, and make major projects harder to manage.