This is not a good sign.
Another one of Vice President Kamala Harris’s staff has resigned, this time it’s her top national security adviser Nancy McEldowney that’s calling it quits.
McEldowney, a 31-year veteran of the State Department, has worked for Harris since she took office and has advised both Harris and President Joe Biden on integral topics including Ukraine, Afghanistan, Iran, and cybersecurity.
In a memo to staffers, McEldowney announces her resignation, saying she was making the move to “focus on some pressing personal matters,” but emphasized she would not be “rushing out the door.”
She also stressed her commitment to the Biden-Harris administration stating, “This was a difficult decision because I am so deeply committed to the work we do and the crucial national interest we serve. But after more than a year, this is the right decision for my family.”
The memo also reveals McEldowney will be replaced by her deputy, Philip Gordon, who is a special assistant to Biden and deputy national security adviser to Harris.
Gordon is a veteran of the Clinton and Obama administrations. During Clinton’s tenure, Gordon served as the director of European affairs from 1998 to 1999. He took up a similar role in the Obama administration, serving as the assistant secretary for European and Eurasian affairs between 2009 and 2011. Between 2013 and 2015, he served on the National Security Council as the Middle East, North Africa, and Gulf region coordinator.
In a statement to Reuters, Harris acknowledged McEldowney’s role providing “invaluable counsel,” adding that she would remain grateful for her “service – her exceptional talent, deep expertise, and leadership navigating complex challenges.”
McEldowney’s resignation follows a string of staff departures that have continued unabated since the start of Harris’ term. Harris has especially been bleeding senior communication staffers, with the latest communication staffer resignation being deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh.
