Key facts
- Half of Trump's eight female cabinet officials have departed in recent months.
- All departed female cabinet officials were replaced by men.
- Katie Zacharia was fired as press secretary after five days.
- Kristi Noem was fired as homeland security secretary amid controversy.
- Pam Bondi was pushed out as attorney general over the Epstein files.
- Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned as labor secretary following misconduct allegations.
President Donald Trump has frequently highlighted his appointments of women to high-ranking positions as a defense against criticism. However, in recent months, half of his eight female cabinet officials have either resigned or been fired, with men appointed as their replacements. This trend has led to accusations of a double standard within the administration.
Katie Zacharia, the most recent departure, was fired as White House press secretary after only five days due to a rocky start and questions about her legal credentials. She succeeded Karoline Leavitt, who resigned in August to spend more time with her family.
Kristi Noem, former homeland security secretary, was fired on March 5 amid controversy surrounding her immigration policies and a large ad campaign. Pam Bondi, former attorney general, was pushed out in April due to perceived mishandling of the Epstein files. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, former labor secretary, stepped down in April following allegations of misconduct. Tulsi Gabbard resigned as national intelligence director in May, reportedly after a tumultuous tenure.
In contrast, several male officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and FBI Director Kash Patel, have remained in their positions despite facing scrutiny and calls for resignation. Mike Waltz, a former national security adviser, was fired last May but subsequently nominated as ambassador to the UN.