White House Denies Claims of Potential Cabinet Shakeup

Officials say Gabbard, Lutnick, and Chavez-DeRemer 'continue to have the president's full confidence'

Apr. 4, 2026 at 11:50am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The White House has pushed back on reports that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer could be the next officials fired, calling them 'patriots' who 'continue to have the president's full confidence.' This comes after the recent ousting of Attorney General Pam Bondi, which sparked speculation about further Cabinet changes.

Why it matters

Speculation over potential Cabinet shakeups has intensified following the firing of Attorney General Bondi, a move that signaled potential volatility at the highest levels of the administration. The White House's response aims to quell these rumors and project stability within the administration.

The details

The New York Times and The Washington Post both reported that there have been discussions about removing Gabbard, Lutnick and Chavez-DeRemer, citing anonymous White House sources. However, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told both newspapers that 'patriots like DNI Gabbard, Secretary Lutnick, and Secretary Chavez-DeRemer are tirelessly implementing the President's agenda and achieving tremendous results for the American people. They continue to have the president's full confidence.' White House Director of Communications Steven Cheung also backed Gabbard, saying the president has 'total confidence' in her and that 'any insinuation otherwise is totally fake news.'

  • On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump ousted Attorney General Pam Bondi, marking the second Cabinet departure, with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem being fired last month.

The players

Tulsi Gabbard

Director of National Intelligence who has been critical of U.S. involvement in Middle East conflicts, especially the idea of war with Iran.

Howard Lutnick

Commerce Secretary whose 'brazen approach to his work has caused some frustration among White House aides, according to The Post and The NYT.

Lori Chavez-DeRemer

Labor Secretary who is currently facing misconduct allegations along with other top figures in the Labor department, according to The New York Post.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Patriots like DNI Gabbard, Secretary Lutnick, and Secretary Chavez-DeRemer are tirelessly implementing the President's agenda and achieving tremendous results for the American people. They continue to have the president's full confidence.”

— Davis Ingle, White House Spokesperson

“The President has assembled the most talented and impactful Cabinet ever, and they have collectively delivered historic victories on behalf of the American people.”

— Steven Cheung, White House Director of Communications

What’s next

Attention will remain on whether more senior officials depart in the coming weeks, and how any changes—or continued denials—shape confidence inside the administration.

The takeaway

The White House's swift denial of the reports about potential Cabinet shakeups aims to project stability and unity within the administration, even as speculation continues to swirl about further changes at the highest levels of government.