Trump's Second Term Sees High Cabinet Turnover, Unfilled Positions

President Donald Trump has seen more top officials leave their positions in the first two years of his second term than the past five administrations, according to newly compiled data.

At least 27 officials in Senate-confirmed Cabinet department positions had left their jobs by July 20, 2026, according to the Partnership for Public Service, a nonpartisan organization that seeks to strengthen civil service.

That’s more than double the 11 Senate-confirmed individuals in Cabinet departments who left during Trump’s first term in the White House.

When compared to previous administrations, just one official left during the Biden administration, seven departed under Obama and five under Bush.

Not only are top officials leaving the Trump team - either by choice, due to internal promotions, or because of firings - but they are not being replaced.

White House Spokesperson Olivia Wales said in a statement: “President Trump has the most talented Cabinet in American history who work every day to implement his common sense, America First agenda.”

Wales added: “In just over one year, the President and his Cabinet have made our country greater than ever before with the most secure border in history, the largest middle-class tax cut ever, and the lowest murder rate since 1900. The President and his entire administration will continue to tirelessly implement the Trump agenda and achieve tremendous results for the American people,”

The data did not include departures of Senate-confirmed Cabinet department officials who were nominated under a different administration. It also did not include departures or firings of U.S. attorneys, ambassadors or U.S. marshals.

Turnover among officials was a widely reported issue during Trump’s first administration. In Trump’s second term, it’s become less of a focus because the administration has also conducted mass firings of federal employees and made sweeping cuts across government departments.

But top officials who oversee key agencies and departments have also been pushed out or fired.

Susan Monarez, the former CDC director, said she was ousted from her position in August 2025 because she resisted pressure from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. regarding vaccine recommendations.

Some, such as Joe Kent, former director of the National Counterterrorism Center, have resigned due to policy disagreements. Kent, who left in March 2026, said he did not support Trump’s position on going to war with Iran.

But not all have left their jobs for negative reasons. Billy Long, the former IRS commissioner, left his position in August 2025 to become the U.S. ambassador to Iceland.

Unlike his predecessors, Trump has made fewer nominations to the Senate, with just 452 in his first year and 126 so far in his second year. That means many top officials are working in an “acting” position, a temporary gig that still comes with vast authority over a department or agency.

Trump has indicated he enjoys having someone in an acting position because it allows him to choose whoever he wants, without the approval of Congress.

Most recently, the president received widespread scrutiny for making Bill Pulte the acting Director of National Intelligence, despite his lack of experience. Yet the president encouraged Pulte to use his time as the temporary chief to conduct mass firings.