White House Begins Staff Overhaul

President Obama is readying a reorganization of his staff, altering his economic team and choosing new defense and press secretaries, among other changes. The aims: an executive branch operating at its full potential, progress with a Republican Congress, and an eye on reelection, the New York Times reports. “This is a bubble,” said adviser David Axelrod. “There’s an advantage to bringing in folks who have a fresh set of senses.”

As previously reported, Axelrod will be replaced by former campaign manager David Plouffe as Obama’s chief political adviser. Meanwhile, the president is looking to Treasury adviser Gene Sperling or investment banker Roger Altman to take over for Larry Summers as director of the National Economic Council. The administration is also hiring new lawyers to address potential oversight probes from the incoming Congress. Up to now, this White House has seen far fewer staff changes than recent administrations, the Times notes.