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← Signal: State & Power

Half of Trump's female cabinet officials have departed in second term; all replaced by men

Confirmed1 source · Oct 17, 2026

In the space of months, four of eight female cabinet members have resigned or been fired, while male officials facing similar or greater scrutiny have retained their positions.

Half of Trump's female cabinet officials have departed in second term; all replaced by men
Image via The Guardian

What happened

During Trump's second term, half of his eight female cabinet officials have departed. Katie Zacharia was fired as White House press secretary on Friday, five days into the role, following a poorly received first briefing and questions about her legal credentials. Kristi Noem (homeland security) was fired on March 5 after controversies over immigration enforcement operations and an alleged $220 million ad campaign; Pam Bondi (attorney general) was pushed out in April after 14 months, with Trump frustrated over mishandling of Epstein files and perceived failures to prosecute political enemies; Lori Chavez-DeRemer (labor secretary) stepped down in April following a Department of Labor inspector general investigation into misconduct allegations; Tulsi Gabbard resigned in May, officially citing her husband's cancer diagnosis, though she was reportedly forced out after being largely sidelined during her tenure. Earlier this week, the Trump administration asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to step down from her position as US ambassador to Greece after weeks of reports that she sought payment from a Trump donor in exchange for access to administration officials. All departing female cabinet members have been replaced by men.

Context

Trump has historically used women's hiring and promotion as a defense against criticism of his policies and personal conduct, yet the pattern of female departures contrasts sharply with the retention of senior male officials despite significant controversies. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has survived calls for resignation following multiple incidents courting international condemnation and allegations of war crimes; FBI Director Kash Patel has faced allegations of intoxication or absence on the job, which he denies, yet remains in position; Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick retained White House support after scrutiny over past ties to Jeffrey Epstein, whereas female officials faced removal for lesser or comparable issues. The disparity raises questions about differential standards for accountability and tenure within the administration.