One of President Obama’s longest-serving aides, senior adviser Dan Pfeiffer, is leaving the White House as soon as the end of the month.
Pfeiffer is the last senior official left in the White House who served on Obama’s 2008 campaign, following the departure of other top Obama advisers like David Axelrod and David Plouffe. That’s not uncommon for two-term presidents at this point in their time in office, but Pfeiffer’s exit marks the first time Obama has been without someone from his original close-knit circle.
“Dan has been beside me on every step of this incredible journey, starting with those earliest days of the campaign in 2007,” Obama said in a statement. “And through it all, he’s been smart, steady, tireless and true to the values we started with. Like everyone else in the White House, I’ve benefited from his political savvy and his advocacy for working people. He’s a good man and a good friend, and I’m going to miss having him just down the hall from me.”
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Pfeiffer’s departure was first reported by The New York Times and later confirmed by NBC News.
Pfeiffer had long been eyeing an exit, telling Obama he planned to leave after last month’s State of the Union Address. The White House felt comfortable letting Pfeiffer leave “given the position of strength we are in right now,” a senior administration official said.
Pfeiffer was promoted to senior adviser after serving as White House communications director in 2013. In his new role, Pfeiffer has been focused on using technology to drive the White House’s message, especially around major events like the State of the Union.
While he may step down as soon as the end of the month, Pfeiffer will finish a project he’s working on to integrate the White House’s communications and social media operations in early-March, the official said.
White House counselor John Podesta is also expected to leave the White House soon to play a senior role in a likely Hillary Clinton presidential campaign. Pfeiffer’s future plans are not yet clear.
Alex Seitz-Wald