Top Trump aide Derek Lyons to leave White House this month

White House staff secretary Derek Lyons, one of President Trump’s closest aides, is leaving his job later this month, a White House official confirmed Tuesday.

Lyons held multiple roles in the White House over the last few years, becoming one of Trump’s close confidantes in the process. He replaced Rob Porter as staff secretary upon Porter’s departure in 2018 in the face of domestic abuse allegations.

Lyons handled the flow of information to the president in his role as staff secretary. He was reportedly considered for the head of the Domestic Policy Council earlier this year, but that job ultimately went to Brooke Rollins. Lyons was promoted to counselor to the president at the same time Rollins landed that job.

Bloomberg News first reported on Lyons’ impending exit. 

“It has been an honor and a privilege to work for President Trump in the White House and fight for the American people alongside truly talented and dedicated colleagues,” Lyons told the news outlet in a statement. “I am deeply grateful to the president for the opportunity to serve.”

It’s unclear if Lyons had planned to leave regardless of whether Trump won a second term, but he is one of just a few top level officials to head for the exits as the president refuses to concede the election.

White House communications director Alyssa Farah resigned in early December, and Attorney General William Barr will depart the administration effective next week.