White House Legislative Director Shahira Knight Steps Down
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Shahira Knight, the White House's director of legislative affairs, is leaving her role for a job in the private sector, US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday.
The president made the news official in a tweet, saying that Knight "was outstanding for us and for our Country" and that she "will be a tremendous success in the private sector!
Knight played a key role in ushering Trump's tax cut law through the GOP-led Congress in 2017 but intended to leave her post on the National Economic Council before she was persuaded to become his top Capitol Hill emissary last summer.
Her departure was first reported by CNN.
The president did not announce a departure date, but Knight was believed to be eyeing the exits after returning to the White House last year.
Knight's role was expected to have diminishing utility as a divided Congress and the approaching election year presented fewer opportunities to work on passing legislation, The Hill reported.
Aside from ongoing talks about an infrastructure bill, the Democrat-held House, the GOP-held Senate and the White House have found little common ground on policy.
Knight becomes the latest White House aide to exit the administration. Earlier Tuesday, longtime aide Johnny DeStefano announced plans to leave his post by the end of the week to pursue work in the private sector.
DeStefano was one of a handful of advisers left from the beginning of Trump’s presidency and was seen as an emissary to Capitol Hill Republicans as well as a key figure in crafting the White House’s strategy during the 2018 midterm elections.
He is reportedly expected to take on advisory work for the e-cigarette maker Juul, in addition to helping Trump’s reelection campaign.
