Since Joe Biden and Kamala Harris took office in the White House in 2021, their staff has undergone a significant amount of turnover. Last July, POTUS’s communications director, Kate Bedingfield, made the choice to depart the administration, but she ultimately changed her mind after giving it some thought. The long-serving official has once more declared her departure, but this time it’s official.
Ben LaBolt will take up Bedingfield’s position as of the end of the month, the White House stated on Friday, February 10. The departing employee and Joe Biden go way back. During the Obama Administration, she worked for him as his communications director from 2015 to 2016. She also served as Biden’s 2020 vice presidential campaign manager.
Biden praised Bedingfield for her years of service in the press release, calling her “a loyal and trusted advisor, through thick and thin.”
LaBolt was in charge of the Biden Administration’s communication in relation to Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation as a justice of the Supreme Court. He will be the first openly gay director of communications in the country.
President Biden's communications director, Kate Bedingfield, will step down at the end of the month, the White House announced Friday, adding to the growing administration shake-up. https://t.co/SJmdnUG3ZJ
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) February 10, 2023
White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain also announced his resignation at the same time the resignation was made. In the upcoming days, Jeff Zients will take his place. Additionally, Zach Butterworth, Biden’s director of business sector engagement, left on Friday, February 10. He was well-known in the government for establishing connections between the Cabinet and leaders in the private sector, such as CEOs and owners of small enterprises, and for mobilizing support for initiatives like the Inflation Reduction Act and other relief bills.
Many of these staff members are considering whether it would be better for their careers to finish out their term in the White House with President Biden as the administration nears its midway point. These choices are being made ahead of Biden’s probable announcement that he would run for re-election.
