On Saturday, President Donald Trump announced the appointment of Katie Bailey as the new head of the White House’s Office of Legislative Affairs. In this role, Bailey will serve as the key liaison between the administration and Congress, a position that is pivotal for advancing the administration’s legislative agenda.
Trump expressed confidence in Bailey’s abilities, stating on Truth Social, “After previously working on Capitol Hill, Katie understands how the Executive and Legislative Branches of Government can most effectively work together to achieve Great Success for the American People.”
Bailey, who previously served as the deputy director of legislative affairs, has been instrumental in interactions with the Senate. Trump credited her involvement in the confirmation processes for various Cabinet members, including Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton. Her experience on Capitol Hill includes a recent tenure as legislative director for Senator Mike Braun, R-Ind., and a role as special assistant to the president from September 2025 to June 2026, according to her LinkedIn profile.
This announcement follows Trump’s appointment of Katie Zacharia as the new White House press secretary just a day earlier. Bailey takes over the role from James Braid, who has served as the legislative affairs director for an extended period, navigating Trump’s legislative initiatives through Congress. Braid’s departure, announced by Trump in late August, is part of a broader transition as the administration prepares for challenges that may arise if Republicans do not maintain their majorities in Congress after the forthcoming midterms.
In his statement, Trump lauded Braid as his “longest tenured” legislative affairs director and acknowledged his contributions in the role before transitioning to the private sector. Braid expressed his gratitude towards Trump and Vice President JD Vance, noting the difficulty and significance of his previous position, which Vance characterized as “one of the toughest jobs in the entire Administration.”
As Katie Bailey steps into her new role, she is expected to leverage her extensive legislative experience to facilitate the Trump administration’s objectives on Capitol Hill, amid a critical period leading up to the midterm elections.
