(Bloomberg) -- Donald Trump’s legislative affairs director, Shahira Knight, is planning to leave the administration for a post in the private sector as the focus in the White House turns from the president’s policy agenda to his upcoming re-election campaign.
The departure of Knight, a longtime Republican congressional aide who played a central role in Trump’s 2017 tax code overhaul, comes as the White House is attempting to negotiate deals with Congress to raise the debt ceiling, avoid automatic spending cuts under sequestration, and pass a new trade agreement with Mexico and Canada.
In a statement Tuesday, Trump praised Knight as having done a “wonderful job” as his top congressional liaison.
“She was outstanding for us and for our country and will be a tremendous success in the private sector,” Trump said.
Knight said in a statement she would “always be grateful for the experience I have gained, and proud of the accomplishments I have helped achieve alongside a very talented White House team.”
White House Acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney said Knight is “as valuable for her strategic political insights behind the scenes as she is for her numerous public contributions,” adding that she would be “sorely missed.”
Knight previously worked on the House Ways and Means Committee and the Joint Economic Committee, where she was part of the effort to get President George W. Bush’s tax cut plan through Congress. Before joining the White House staff, she was vice president of the public affairs and policy group at Fidelity Investments.
Knight’s departure was announced the same day as the exit of Johnny DeStefano, assistant counselor to the president who was a key figure in helping staff the Trump administration.
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