An economic advisor to President Donald Trump will take over as the White House's top legislative director, replacing Marc Short who on Thursday became the latest senior aide to exit the administration. In the middle of a heated Senate confirmation battle over Trump's pick for the US Supreme Court, the White House announced that Shahira Knight, the president's deputy assistant for economic policy, will take over from Short.
Short has been one of Trump's longest serving and more visible aides, routinely seen on Capitol Hill as he sought to shepherd legislation through the Senate and House of Representatives.
White House Chief of Staff John Kelly described Short as "an integral part" of the staff, an official who helped the president pass measures to rebuild the military and reform the tax code. "We will miss his profound expertise, commitment to the taxpayers, and leadership," Kelly said.
Short was at the center of some of the grandest and most contentious legislative pushes of Trump's presidency, including failed efforts to repeal the Obama-era Affordable Care Act, and immigration reform.