The president’s deputy national security adviser, Dina Powell, is leaving the administration.
Powell will return to New York early next year, the White House announced on Friday.
‘Dina Powell has been a key, trusted advisor in this administration,’ White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement. ‘She has always planned to serve one year before returning home to New York, where she will continue to support the President’s agenda and work on Middle East policy. She will serve in the administration until early next year.’
Her departure, while intentional, follows a string of personnel changes within the administration.
The president’s deputy national security adviser, Dina Powell, is leaving the administration
Powell takes part in a group photo with President Donald Trump and other members of the White House National Security Council on the steps of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Septemer
Powell is seen here meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Jared Kushner in Tel Aviv in August
The president has changed out his communications director, press secretary, chief of staff, deputy chief of staff and Health and Human Services secretary since taking office.
He fired his first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, after the former director of national intelligence was caught lying to the vice president.
Of his inner White House circle, only Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, Kellyanne Conway and Gary Cohn remain. Cohn, too, is anticipated to leave if Trump gets his massive tax overhaul.
White House officials hailed Powell as ‘invaluable’ in statements on Friday afternoon.
‘She organized and drove an effort to restore our nation’s strategic competence,’ Trump’s current national security advisor, H.R. McMaster, said. ‘Her sage advice helped provide options to the President and her strong relationships across the U.S. government and internationally helped drive execution of the President’s decisions.’
McMaster graciously spoke of her as ‘one of the most talented and effective leaders with whom I have ever served.’
‘All of us look forward to continuing to work with her, as she continues to support this Administration’s efforts on Middle East peace and other issues.’
Kushner, who Trump has tapped to put together a Middle East peace plan, said, Powell ‘has done a great job for the Administration and has been a valued member of the Israeli-Palestinian peace team.’
‘She will continue to play a key role in our peace efforts and we will share more details on that in the future,’ he said.