White House communications director Kate Bedingfield is departing at the end of the month, the White House announced Friday, marking just the latest Biden official to exit the administration in recent weeks.
Bedingfield, who has worked for President Joe Biden since his time as vice president, originally announced her departure last July but decided to stay in the role. She is expected to advise in Biden’s 2024 campaign, CNN reported. In a statement, Biden said Bedingfield, who served as deputy campaign manager in his 2020 campaign, has been a "loyal and trusted adviser."
Bedingfield is the most recent Biden official to announce their departure. Chief of staff Ron Klain stepped down this month, handing the job to Jeff Zients, who worked alongside Anthony Fauci as COVID-19 czar. More than half a million Americans died from the virus while he coordinated the White House's COVID policy.
Other high-profile exits include National Economic Council director Brian Deese, who is leaving the administration after helping draft the Inflation Reduction Act, which even Biden's own allies said will not reduce inflation. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh also announced this week he is leaving the administration to run the National Hockey League players' union.
Departures have become frequent in the West Wing, as Vice President Kamala Harris has also struggled to keep staff. The vice president lost her communications director, chief of staff, and several other advisers in recent months.