Fears of 'brain drain' hit White House amid Trump staff exits

The ongoing resignations and firings of senior officials in the administration of US President Donald Trump is raising concerns in Washington of a coming "brain drain" around the president that will only make it more difficult for Trump to advance his already languishing policy agenda.

The resignation of Trump’s chief economic adviser Gary Cohn has sparked internal fears of an even larger exodus at the White House. Cohn announced his resignation on Tuesday over Trump’s controversial plan to impose hefty tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.

Multiple White House officials said the president has been pushing anxious aides to stay on the job.

Trump's White House has descended into a period of unparalleled tumult amid a wave of staff departures, yet the president has rejected claims that the White House is in chaos.

"Everyone wants to work in the White House," Trump said during a news conference Tuesday. "They all want a piece of the Oval Office."

However, the reality is far different. Many positions are still vacant in the White House and the broader Trump administration, with some jobs never filled and others subject to repeat openings.

PressTV-'No chaos' in White House, Trump says

US President Donald Trump refutes media reports that there is chaos in the White House after a wave of staff turnover.

The position of White House communications director is soon to be empty again after the departure of its fourth occupant, Hope Hicks.

"They are left with vacancies atop of vacancies," said Kathryn Dunn-Tenpas of the Brookings Institution who tracks senior-level staff turnover. Her analysis shows the Trump departure rate has reached 40 percent in just over a year.

"That kind of turnover creates a lot of disruption," she said, noting the loss of institutional knowledge and relationships with agencies and Congress. "You can't really leave those behind to your successor."

Turnover after a year in office is not unusual, but the Trump administration iss replacing staff at a very fast pace, and allies are worried the situation could descend into a free-fall. One White House official said there is concern about a potential "death spiral" in the West Wing, with each departure heightening the sense of frenzy and expediting the next.

In a tweet on Tuesday, Trump rebuffed claims of discord among the top ranks in his administration and that the West Wing was spiraling out of control, but also warning of more shake-ups in the future.

"The new Fake News narrative is that there is CHAOS in the White House. Wrong! People will always come & go, and I want strong dialogue before making a final decision," Trump said. "I still have some people that I want to change (always seeking perfection). There is no Chaos, only great Energy!"

Trump made the comments as reports of high-ranking staff departures and negative news stories in the embattled White House hit the headlines over the last few weeks.

Multiple aides who are considering departing, all speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters, said they didn't have a clue about whom the administration could find to fill their roles. Some said they were nearing a breaking point for staying on the job longer than planned.

"You have situations where people are stretched to take on more than one job," said Martha Joynt Kumar, director of the White House Transition Project.

Morale has plunged among West Wing aides in recent weeks. Some point to the departure of staff secretary Rob Porter in mid-February as beginning the tailspin.

The administration has been understaffed from the onset, in part due to the president's refusal to consider hiring even the most qualified Republicans if they opposed him during the campaign, according to a White House official not authorized to speak publicly about personnel matters.

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