Another senior White House official is leaving President Donald Trump’s administration as incoming Chief of Staff Stephen Miller prepares to take control of the West Wing, signaling additional changes to the president’s inner circle.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Richard Walters is departing the administration ahead of Miller’s arrival Monday, becoming one of the first prominent officials to exit during the leadership transition.
The departure comes as Miller prepares to replace outgoing Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and assemble his own team of senior advisers.
According to Fox News, Miller personally confirmed Walters’ exit in a statement, praising his contributions to the administration and indicating that he would remain involved in supporting the White House from outside government.
The announcement suggests that Walters’ departure will not necessarily mark the end of his relationship with Trump’s political operation.
Nevertheless, his exit represents another significant personnel change at a time when the administration is preparing for a new leadership structure.
Walters was considered a close ally of Wiles, whose departure created the opening for Miller to assume one of the most influential positions in the federal government.
With Wiles leaving, Walters’ decision to step aside clears another senior position as the incoming chief of staff prepares to establish his own leadership team.
Miller is expected to formally assume his new responsibilities Monday.
The chief of staff position carries substantial influence over the president’s daily schedule, internal White House operations and coordination among senior administration officials.
That responsibility also gives the incoming chief considerable involvement in determining which advisers occupy important positions within the executive branch.
Walters’ departure is particularly notable given his extensive history working within Republican politics and Trump’s political organization.
Before serving as deputy chief of staff, Walters held the position of executive director of Trump’s 2025 presidential inaugural committee.
He also previously occupied senior positions within the Republican National Committee, gaining considerable experience in national party operations.
His political work extends across all three of Trump’s presidential campaigns, establishing him as a longtime figure within the president’s broader political network.
Those connections made Walters an experienced member of the administration’s senior staff.
However, the leadership transition now places Miller in charge of assembling the personnel structure that will guide White House operations moving forward, per Just the News.
The announcement did not specify whether Walters was asked to resign or independently decided to leave.
It also did not identify who will replace him or what responsibilities he might assume while continuing to assist the White House from outside the administration.
Miller’s statement indicates that the outgoing deputy chief of staff is expected to maintain a supportive relationship with Trump’s team.
For now, Walters joins the growing list of senior officials departing as the White House undergoes a significant transition.
And with Miller preparing to take over Monday, additional personnel decisions could emerge as the president’s new chief of staff establishes his leadership team.
