Vice President JD Vance’s chief of staff, Jacob Reses, is expected to leave the Trump administration at the end of the summer, according to a report from NBC News.
Reses, one of Vance’s closest and longest-serving political advisers, has served as chief of staff since President Donald Trump and Vance took office in January 2025. According to NBC News, Reses informed Vance of his plans several months ago after learning that his wife was pregnant with their first child.
His next professional move has not yet been publicly disclosed.
“Jacob’s been by my side for my whole career in public life,” Vance said in a statement first shared with NBC News. “I can’t imagine having been on this life-changing journey without him. From day one of my time as a Senator-elect, I could not have asked for a more loyal and discerning advisor and friend as my chief of staff. I’ll miss him dearly, but he won’t be far, and I plan to keep his counsel close until our paths cross again.”
The departure marks a significant change inside the vice president’s office. Reses has been one of the most influential behind-the-scenes figures in Vance’s political rise, helping guide his successful 2022 Senate campaign in Ohio before remaining at his side during Vance’s ascent to the vice presidency.
Prior to joining Vance’s team, Reses worked for Heritage Action, the advocacy arm affiliated with the conservative Heritage Foundation, and later served on the staff of Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.). He became a familiar presence during the 2024 presidential campaign after Trump selected Vance as his running mate, frequently accompanying the vice president on the campaign trail.
NBC News reported that Reses developed strong relationships throughout the administration and earned praise from senior White House officials and Cabinet members.
“Jacob has been an important part of our White House leadership team and has served the Vice President with absolute distinction,” White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles told NBC News. “From diplomacy and war, to complicated matters, to the most minute logistics, there has been no task too big or too small for him to tackle.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised Reses’ “intellect, leadership, and humor,” while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described him as “invaluable” in advancing the administration’s economic agenda. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche called Reses “tough, smart, hardworking, and loyal — the perfect combination to succeed in the Trump White House.”
Trump administration special envoy Steve Witkoff also highlighted Reses’ role in several high-profile diplomatic efforts.
“Don’t let Jacob fool you — beneath his kind exterior he’s a killer,” Witkoff told NBC News. “It’s been a delight to get to know him through the Vice President, and our foreign adventures from Israel to Pakistan have been historic.”
Reses’ departure comes amid broader personnel changes within the vice president’s office. NBC News noted that Vance has already cycled through two deputy chiefs of staff since taking office, while top legal adviser Sean Cooksey departed earlier this year to join a lobbying and public affairs firm.
Despite the planned exit, sources close to Vance told NBC News that Reses is expected to remain closely connected to the vice president and could potentially return to the office in some capacity in the future.
As Vance continues to emerge as one of the most prominent figures in the Republican Party — and a potential contender for the 2028 presidential nomination — the loss of one of his most trusted advisers will be closely watched both inside the administration and among conservative political circles.
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