In a significant shift in personnel, President Donald Trump has appointed Dan Scavino to lead the White House Presidential Personnel Office (PPO), replacing Sergio Gor, who is now the U.S. Ambassador to India. The announcement was made by Trump via a post on Truth Social on Sunday.

Scavino will retain his position as Deputy Chief of Staff while taking on the responsibilities of the PPO. Trump stated that Scavino will be responsible for the selection and appointment of nearly all positions in the government, describing it as "a very big and important position". White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has previously described Scavino as one of Trump's "most trusted and longest-serving advisors".

The Presidential Personnel Office plays a crucial role in the administration, overseeing the selection process for presidential appointments and recruiting candidates to serve the President in various departments and agencies within the Executive Branch.

Sergio Gor's appointment as the U.S. Ambassador to India comes after his confirmation by the Senate on October 7. Gor, who previously served as the Director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office since January 2025, is now on a six-day visit to India. During his visit, Gor met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss trade, critical minerals, and defense. Modi expressed confidence that Gor's tenure will further strengthen the India-U.S. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Gor also met with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to discuss the India-U.S. strategic partnership and shared priorities.

Gor, at 38 years old, is considered one of Trump's closest aides and is the youngest U.S. Ambassador to India. Prior to his ambassadorship, Gor served as the United States special envoy for South and Central Asian affairs since August 2025. Trump nominated Gor for the ambassadorship in August 2025.

These changes occur amidst continuing strains in India-U.S. relations over tariffs imposed by the U.S.. Despite these tensions, Gor has expressed optimism about the future of the relationship between the two countries, emphasizing the strong leadership of both President Trump and Prime Minister Modi. Gor conveyed that Trump considers Modi "a great leader and personal friend," referencing a recent phone call between the two leaders.

The Trump administration's personnel decisions reflect a broader strategy regarding the federal workforce. While the administration initially aimed to reduce the size of the federal government, data indicates that the number of full-time, civilian federal employees actually increased during Trump's first term. Shifts in workforce size varied across agencies, aligning with the administration's priorities.