Nancy McEldowney, the national security adviser to Vice President Kamala Harris, has stepped down, the White House announced Monday.
The White House did not give a reason for her departure but issued a statement saying Ms. McEldowney was “a close and trusted” adviser to Ms. Harris whose work “made a significant positive difference.”
The departure comes at a tough time for Ms. Harris, who has taken a key role in the Biden administration’s efforts to stop the bloodshed in Ukraine. Ms. Harris last month attended critical meetings with leaders in Poland and Romania, which border Ukraine.
The trip was widely panned by critics, who slammed Ms. Harris for inappropriate laughter in response to a question about Ukrainian refugees. In response, an ex-spokesperson for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it would be “a tragedy” if Ms. Harris ever became president.
Last month, Ms. Harris attended the Munich Security Conference in which European leaders convened in a bid to stop a looming Russian attack on Ukraine.
Ms. McEldowney has held the position since Ms. Harris took office in January 2021.
She will be replaced by her deputy, Phillip Gordon, the White House said. Mr. Gordon has also held his position since Ms. Harris took office, advising her and President Biden on topics such as Afghanistan, Iran and Ukraine.
Both accompanied Ms. Harris on her foreign policy trips, including her trip to Poland and Romania earlier this month.
Ms. McEldowney and Mr. Gordon also held national security positions in the Obama administration. During his time in the Obama administration, Mr. Gordon served as special assistant to the president and White House coordinator for the Middle East, North Africa and Gulf regions.
The shakeup comes after a series of high-profile exits from Ms. Harris’ communication teams amid several messaging failures.
Deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh left the vice president’s office last week for the Defense Department, leaving only one of the four top communications team members remaining from Ms. Harris’ first day in office.
Ms. Harris’ press secretary, Symone Sanders, resigned in December following the departure of Communications Director Ashley Etienne. Kate Childs Graham, a top speechwriter for the vice president, left in February.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
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