President Donald Trump heads into the second half of his term with key vacancies among his senior White House staff. That means whoever comes off the bench must contend with the possibility of a Democratic-controlled Congress, a slew of subpoenas, a lingering war in the Middle East and an open Republican presidential primary.
James Braid, the top liaison to Congress, this week announced his exit. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said she would depart the week before. Replacements for either have not been announced.
Though it's not unusual for staff to depart around the midterms, Trump's desire to run the country through a handful of close, fiercely loyal aides means each loss is more impactful than in a White House where power and responsibility are more diffuse.
These departures don't guarantee a tougher road for the administration, but they inject a dose of uncertainty at an already tenuous time, when the president is facing a slew of challenges — both foreign and domestic.
"I think people are seeing the writing on the wall and thinking Republicans probably aren't going to have the House, might not have the Senate either, and things are going to be stalled," said an official who served in Trump's first term, who like others in this article was granted anonymity to speak candidly.

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