In a sweeping personnel shake-up, President Donald Trump has tapped Dan Scavino — currently serving as Deputy Chief of Staff — to assume leadership of the White House’s Presidential Personnel Office (PPO).
Scavino’s elevation comes as Sergio Gor, the longtime director of the PPO, prepares to depart for a new diplomatic assignment as U.S. Ambassador to India. The transition marks a consolidation of staffing authority under one of the president’s closest aides.
In his new capacity, Scavino will be responsible for vetting, selecting, and placing candidates across the federal government. The role carries significant influence over staffing in agencies, regulatory bodies, and executive offices.
By pairing the oversight of personnel with his Deputy Chief of Staff duties, Scavino’s influence in the West Wing is set to increase. The move is seen as an effort by Trump to place trusted allies in key operational roles during a pivotal midterm and pre-election period.
White House officials say the leadership change will be effective imminently, and that Gor will remain involved during a transition phase to ensure continuity.
The decision comes amid other administrative adjustments and a broader effort by the Trump team to streamline decision-making and align staffing leadership more closely with the president’s priorities.