TWH Looking For Communications Team 2.0

The White House is considering a major overhaul of its press and communications shop in the coming weeks, a staff shakeup that’s aimed at putting a new team in place to drive President Joe Biden’s message into November’s midterm elections and in the months after voters decide whether his party retains control of Congress, according to NBC News citing multiple people familiar with the effort. 

The effort to revamp the White House press operation comes as Biden has expressed frustration that his message isn’t breaking through to Americans and his approval ratings continue to hit new lows, while his aides prepare for him to seek re-election.

One of Biden’s top advisers, Anita Dunn, has begun interviewing candidates to be the next White House communications director, the first step in the overhaul, these people said.

Dunn, who returned to the White House in May, is overseeing the broader plans to restructure the entire press office, which recently has seen significant turnover, people familiar with the effort said. 

Two sources familiar with the process said the search has prioritized candidates who have a previously existing relationship with Biden, though one source said that preference does not preclude additional possible contenders. 

Bedingfield, who has been Biden’s communications director as vice president, in his 2020 campaign and since the start of the administration, steps down Friday. Hers is the latest in a string of departures from the White House’s message shop in recent months that have included Biden’s first press secretary, Jen Psaki, Deputy Communications Director Pili Tobar, the White House’s rapid response director and two other assistant press secretaries.