White House switching up communications staff ahead of 2024 campaign
Eden Villalovas
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Kate Berner, a top White House communications official and abiding aide to President Joe Biden, is planning to leave her role as principal deputy communications director.
Berner will depart in the coming weeks, as confirmed on Monday by Ben LaBolt, the White House communications director.
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LaBolt tweeted that Berner has been at the center of Biden’s communication operations for over four years, “doing hard work you don’t always see — distilling complex policy processes, making sure the news we share is clear and factual and managing a cross functional team. She’ll be greatly missed!”
Berner was a part of Biden’s 2020 campaign and joined the White House starting as a deputy communications director before being promoted to principal deputy communications director in August 2022.
The news comes as the White House is undergoing a string of changes as the administration prepares for Biden’s reelection bid, with some officials transferring over to the 2024 campaign. Last month, Biden tapped White House Intergovernmental Affairs Director Julie Chavez Rodriguez to be his campaign manager.
Other high-profile names have praised Berner, including Kate Bedingfield, former White House communications director, who served four years with Biden.
“Berner is the best of the best and no one deserves some rest and recharge more than her,” Bedingfield tweeted. “She has served this White House and her country with distinction and I hope that any foxhole I’m in at any point in the future includes Kate Berner.”
Chris Meagher, assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, said Berner is a “doer,” praising her work ethic.
“She’s smart, strategic, and decisive, and a great pal and partner who I could always go to for counsel or to bounce an idea around,” Meagher tweeted. “She will be missed at the WH but her impact will be felt for a long time.”
The White House has not made an official statement on the future of Berner or if she will transfer to Biden’s 2024 presidential campaign.