Trump Axes Jobs in the RNC In Order to Cut Out Bureaucracy

Days after securing his spot as the Republican Party’s presumptive presidential nominee, Donald Trump is taking an axe to the Republican National Committee (RNC) staffing levels in an effort to cut out what one staffer called “bureaucracy.”

Immediate Action by New RNC Leadership

New chair Michael Whatley and co-chair Lara Trump (Trump’s daughter-in-law) wasted no time in beginning the cuts, taking over the RNC on Friday and announcing cuts a mere three days later.

Trump’s new RNC team has begun the process of removing an estimated 60+ staffers from its ranks as they prepare to align the entire RNC under one banner.

Dozens of officials across multiple departments, including data, political, and communications, are predicted to be let go, as the leadership is “evaluating the organization and staff to ensure the building is aligned” with Whatley’s vision on how to win in 2024.

Reasoning Behind the Cuts

According to sources within the RNC, these cuts are intended to minimize any wasted staffing costs as Trump’s campaign and the RNC become essentially one entity.

Trump already has operations teams he trusts and would rather the funds go to advertising and marketing campaigns. One campaign official told CBS, “The goal is to be one operation. We want to make sure we have the most talented people in the most pivotal places.” Certain staff have been asked to resign and reapply for a different position; however, if they choose not to, they will be terminated from the RNC.

The cuts affect employees on all levels – mid-level, vendors and senior staff are expected to be in the firing line, and many existing vendor contracts will likely be terminated.

News About the Election Integrity Division

According to Republican insiders, the election integrity division – a task force the RNC created dedicated to protecting the integrity of the upcoming elections, with staff including poll watchers and lawyers – remains unchanged.

The RNC has been struggling with significant financial issues the last year, seeing out 2023 with only $8 million cash on hand – marking their lowest fundraising year since 2013 – and a far cry from the Democratic party’s $21 million.

RNS’s Funding Issues

According to the Guardian, Fundraising issues had become so severe that RNC officials wanted Nikki Haley to exit the presidential candidate race early so they could establish a joint fundraising agreement with Trump’s campaign.

These cuts are not an unexpected announcement, with many in the RNC having been expecting them for weeks. Trump has been hinting he would force out the previous chair, Ronna McDaniel, since early February in favour of both Whatley and Lara Trump.

Last month, Trump met with McDaniel at Mar-a-Lago and recommended that she announce her resignation after Super Tuesday, a sentiment he reiterated on Newsmax in the week following their meeting. When asked whether she should step aside due to the RNC’s financial and electoral results, Trump replied, “Well, I think she knows that. I think she understands that.”

While McDaniel was reluctant to step down, she conceded that she would if that was what the Republican presidential nominee wanted – whoever that may have been at the time.

Trump’s MAGA base blamed McDaniel for Trump’s 2020 loss and its electoral woes following that, and Trump reportedly soured on the former RNC leader following a string of high-profile losses last November.

Polarized Reactions to Staffing Changes

The reactions to these cuts have been polarizing from both bases. Some Republican operatives are worried that the capabilities of the RNC will now be restricted and won’t have the manpower they need to push for a Trump presidency.

Others are worried that this purge of party members is an effort to force the RNC to rally quickly around Trump’s presidential interests rather than help the party grow through other levels of office across the country.

These worries aren’t necessarily unfounded, as Lara Trump said on Newsmax in February, “Every single penny will go to the No. 1 and the only job of the RNC – that is electing Donald J. Trump as president of the United States and saving this country.”

Support From Senior Republicans

Many senior Republicans have welcomed the change, with Marjorie Taylor Greence writing online, “MAGA is now in control of the Republican Party!! We will continue to need everyone’s help all the way across the finish line! Do not grow weary. Dig deeper.”

Biden’s team, for their part, reacted in a statement to CNN, in which they stated, “This month, we will continue to build out our physical presence with 100 office openings and at least 350 new staff members.”