Lea Bardon, the White House director of Cabinet Affairs, is leaving the Trump administration to join a Washington-based public affairs firm, marking the latest high-level departure as officials shift toward political and private sector roles ahead of the midterm election cycle, Politico reported Tuesday.
Bardon will become executive vice president at The Sovereign Advisors. The firm was founded by Taylor Budowich, a longtime confidant of President Donald Trump, who departed the White House last fall.
Bardon played a central role in the Trump administration, serving as a conduit between the White House and federal agencies.
As director of Cabinet Affairs, she was widely viewed as a key coordinator of policy implementation, events, and presidential directives across the executive branch.
In her new position, Bardon is expected to work on Budowich's political initiative, Innovation Council Action, which has pledged $100 million for the 2026 election cycle.
She brings an extensive network of relationships with Cabinet secretaries, agency heads, and senior deputies.
Her departure comes after White House deputy chief of staff James Blair, who is transitioning into a political role aimed at boosting Republican efforts in the midterms, according to Politico.
Bardon marked her exit with a farewell gathering Friday attended by senior administration officials, including Cabinet Secretary Meghan Bauer and the vice president's deputy chief of staff, Will Martin, along with other top aides and agency officials.
The move underscores a broader reshuffling within the administration as key personnel shift to political and advocacy roles ahead of a high-stakes election cycle.
Brian Freeman ✉
Brian Freeman, a Newsmax writer based in Israel, has more than three decades writing and editing about culture and politics for newspapers, online and television.
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