Two more officials in the Trump administration are resigning just a few weeks before the crucial midterm elections.
President Donald Trump’s top White House cryptocurrency adviser Patrick Witt has left his position after his temporary government assignment expired, creating another leadership vacancy as the administration continues pushing for comprehensive digital asset legislation.
A White House official confirmed Wednesday that Witt’s “detail has expired,” ending his tenure as executive director of the President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, commonly known as the White House Crypto Council.
“The White House appreciates his time and service to the Trump Administration, and wish him the best of luck in the future endeavors,” the official told The Block.
Advertisement
Witt had been temporarily assigned to the White House from the Department of Defense and became a central administration negotiator in congressional efforts to establish a nationwide regulatory framework for cryptocurrency markets.
His departure comes at a difficult moment for the administration’s digital asset agenda because the Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act remains stalled in the Senate following a failed procedural vote in September. So much of the president’s agenda has failed in the Senate, leaving his supporters pointing fingers at Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.).
Advertisement
The House passed its version of the sweeping legislation in 2025, but senators have struggled to resolve disagreements involving stablecoin rewards, decentralized finance, financial crime protections and ethics restrictions.
A September 15 cloture vote failed 49 to 50, short of the 60 votes needed to advance the legislation, although the setback did not constitute a final rejection of the underlying bill.
Witt had spent months working with lawmakers and cryptocurrency industry representatives in hopes of assembling sufficient bipartisan support for the measure.
Speaking at the SALT conference in August, Witt said he remained “optimistic and bullish” about reaching an agreement despite persistent disagreements among senators.
Meanwhile, former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is no longer serving as President Donald Trump’s special envoy for the Shield of the Americas initiative after her temporary designation expired, though she remains inside the administration working on the same Western Hemisphere security portfolio.
Advertisement
A State Department official confirmed Thursday that Noem’s envoy status ended last month and said she has transitioned into a senior advisory position under Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau.
“Kristi Noem’s envoy status expired last month and she is no longer in the role,” the official told CBS News, adding that she continues working on the Shield of the Americas portfolio.
Advertisement
The personnel change means Noem has lost the formal special-envoy title she received after leaving the Department of Homeland Security earlier this year, but it does not represent a departure from the Trump administration.
Noem was appointed special envoy in March when Trump replaced her as homeland security secretary with then-Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin, who subsequently took control of the department.
Trump said at the time that Noem had produced “numerous and spectacular results,” particularly on border enforcement, while announcing that she would move to the newly created regional security initiative.
Shield of the Americas was established by the Trump administration as a coalition involving the United States and participating Latin American and Caribbean governments, with an emphasis on confronting drug cartels and expanding regional security cooperation.
The initiative also encompasses economic cooperation and other shared priorities as Washington attempts to strengthen relationships with governments throughout the Western Hemisphere.
Advertisement
Noem began her envoy assignment with a tour of Latin America and the Caribbean in March, meeting regional officials as the administration promoted a more aggressive campaign against transnational criminal organizations.
Her diplomatic activities later included discussions with Ecuadorian and Colombian officials in Washington and meetings with regional leaders during the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
She also participated in a gathering of coalition leaders hosted by Trump during the United Nations meetings, where the president publicly praised her work.
“I want to thank Kristi Noem for doing a really terrific job,” Trump said during his remarks at the gathering.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
