Turnover spikes among non-Senate political appointees in Trump’s second term

A recent analysis by the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service reveals that non-Senate-confirmed political appointees are departing the federal government at unprecedented rates during President Trump’s second term. Over the first 18 months, more than 930 senior executive and Schedule C officials left, a figure that exceeds the turnover recorded under Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Trump’s first term. To keep offices staffed, the administration has been making about 160 new non-Senate appointments each month, compared with an average of 70 in prior administrations.

The Department of Homeland Security experienced the steepest losses, with 97 appointees exiting, and roughly 45 % of all leavers served less than a year, many for under six months. The study notes that official tenure records may understate these short stays because the Office of Personnel Management counts total government service time, not just time in the current administration. Researchers warn that high political turnover combined with a 30 % decline in career senior executives could impair agency continuity and effectiveness.