James Braid, a top White House staffer, is expected to leave his position as director of legislative affairs in the coming weeks.
Braid has played a key role in coordinating with a narrow House and Senate majority to advance President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda. It was not immediately clear where Braid would go after leaving the White House. Vice President JD Vance confirmed the news Thurday morning.
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“James Braid had one of the toughest jobs in the entire Administration as White House Legislative Director and delivered for President Trump at every turn,” Vance wrote on X. “He played a critical role in all of the administration’s achievements in Congress: largest tax cut ever, resources to carry out President Trump’s historic immigration agenda and finish the border wall, defeating two Democratic shutdowns, a landmark first crypto bill, the fastest confirmation of the cabinet in decades and much more.”
“Not only is James brilliant, he is one of the hardest workers you will ever meet. He’s been with me in every fight I’ve been in, from day one in my senate office through the transition and the President’s transformative second term. He has served the President with distinction and I couldn’t be prouder of him,” Vance continued.
Braid brought extensive Capitol Hill experience and a deep network of Republican relationships to the role. Before joining the Trump administration, he served as then-Sen. JD Vance’s top policy aide. He previously held senior positions in several House offices, including chief of staff to former Reps. Matt Rosendale (R-MT) and Ken Buck (R-CO), deputy chief of staff to Rep. Mark Sanford (R-SC) and then-Rep. Ted Budd (R-NC), and policy director for the House Freedom Caucus.
Braid was heavily involved in advancing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Trump’s signature domestic policy package, and, more recently, helped shepherd a bipartisan housing bill through Congress.
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His expected departure comes as the Trump administration seeks to sharpen its messaging ahead of the midterm elections in an effort to hold its narrow majority, while contending with low approval ratings. The administration is also grappling with the fallout from the war in Iran, which has pushed up energy costs with no clear end in sight.
Braid’s departure would add to a series of recent changes among senior White House staff. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt left her post last week, while White House deputy chief of staff James Blair took a temporary leave of absence to lead Trump’s political operation ahead of the midterm elections, a move Trump announced in April.
