WASHINGTON — Jacob Reses, chief of staff to Vice President JD Vance, will leave the Trump administration at the end of the summer, according to people close to the vice president’s office.
Reses, who has worked with Vance since his successful 2022 Senate campaign in Ohio, informed Vance of his plans several months ago after his wife became pregnant with their first child, the sources said. He has served as Vance’s chief of staff since the vice president and President Donald Trump took office in January 2025.
The departure was first reported by NBC News on Thursday. Reses is expected to remain close to Vance’s team after leaving his White House role, people familiar with the matter said.
“Jacob’s been by my side for my whole career in public life,” Vance said in a statement. “I couldn’t 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.”
Reses previously served as a senior advisor to Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri and worked for Heritage Action, an affiliate of the conservative Heritage Foundation. He became a key member of Vance’s inner circle, advising him through the 2022 Senate race and the 2024 presidential campaign.
The move marks the latest staff departure in the Trump administration. No successor has been named, officials said. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles described Reses’ service as distinguished, according to reports.
Vance and Reses have maintained a close professional relationship since 2021. Reses played a significant role in Vance’s transition from the Senate to the vice presidency. Details about Reses’ future plans beyond remaining connected to Vance’s orbit remain unclear.
The announcement comes as the administration continues its work on domestic and international priorities. People close to the vice president’s office emphasized that the departure is personal and not driven by policy disagreements.
Reses, 35, is a Princeton graduate. He has been viewed as one of the closest advisors in Vance’s circle throughout his rapid rise in national politics.
As of Thursday, no further details had been released regarding the timing of any transition or potential replacement. Officials said Reses will depart by the end of summer.
