White House deputy chief of staff Richard Walters departs amid Stephen Miller shakeup

White House deputy chief of staff Richard Walters is departing the administration, the latest staffing change at the highest levels of the West Wing as longtime Trump adviser Stephen Miller prepares to take over as chief of staff.

Miller confirmed the move in a statement provided to NewsNation, the sister network of The Hill, and praised Walters's contributions to the administration. "Richard has been an invaluable member of the White House and has helped deliver some of the Administration's biggest victories," Miller said.

"While he will be leaving us, Richard will continue to help from the outside as we continue to work with all of our strength to deliver for President Trump and his courageous fight to Save America," he added.

Axios was the first outlet to report that Walters was leaving his post.

Walters's exit is the second major personnel announcement from the White House in a matter of days. Last week, Trump said that chief of staff Susie Wiles was leaving the White House and that Miller would take her place.

The shakeup at the top of the president's team follows a rough Election Day for Republicans, in which Democrats took control of both the House and the Senate. Democrats also won in regions where the party has historically struggled, and Miller's promotion was announced in the days after those results.

Trump revealed Miller's elevation in a post on Truth Social last week. "I am pleased to announce that Mr. Stephen Miller, the current Deputy Chief of Staff of the Trump Administration, and one of my most trusted advisors, will become the Chief of Staff starting Monday, November 9, 2026," the president wrote.

In the same announcement, Trump said Wiles would shift to his political operation. "Susie Wiles, who has done an outstanding job, will be moving over to the Trump Political Operation," he wrote, adding that he wanted to thank her for her service as chief of staff and that she had done a great job.

Miller is scheduled to formally begin in the role on Monday. According to his statement, Walters will keep assisting the administration from the outside even after leaving the White House.