It’s no secret that Washington, D.C. is a town built on connections, ambition, and, sometimes, a little bit of luck. For Harrison Fields, the latest high-profile White House aide to make the leap from Pennsylvania Avenue to K Street, the journey has been anything but predictable. On Monday, August 25, 2025, CGCN Group, a prominent Republican lobbying and public affairs firm, announced that Fields—who most recently served as Principal Deputy Press Secretary and Special Assistant to President Donald Trump—would be joining their ranks. The move marks not only a personal milestone for Fields but also spotlights a broader, ongoing trend: the so-called ‘revolving door’ between government service and private sector influence remains very much alive, albeit with a new twist in Trump’s second term.
Fields’ path back to the White House wasn’t exactly planned. According to Daily Mail, following Trump’s re-election, Fields had settled into family life in Florida with his wife and newborn daughter, relishing the prospect of a slower pace after a whirlwind campaign. But when Karoline Leavitt—his former colleague and the newly appointed, record-young White House Press Secretary at just 27—called on him to help professionalize her press shop, Fields couldn’t refuse. He became her trusted deputy and a key member of the Trump communications team, an appointment that underscored the close-knit, loyalty-based culture of Trump’s inner circle.
Yet, as Fields found his footing in the White House 2.0, he soon decided it was time for another change. "It had been a great honor and blessing to play a small part in President Trump’s triumphant return to the White House and the consequential success of the White House Press Office as Principal Deputy Press Secretary," Fields said in a statement, as reported by CGCN Group. "Having had the distinct privilege of serving in both administrations, I leave the White House with a heart full of incredible memories, experiences, and pride, having worked alongside my esteemed colleagues to advance the President’s monumental agenda on behalf of the American people. God has been incredibly faithful to me, and as I enter this new chapter, I look forward to continuing to support the MAGA movement in a new, deeply rewarding, and impactful capacity."
Fields’ transition is far from an isolated case. In fact, he’s part of a small but notable exodus from the White House this August. Alongside him, four other aides—Trent Morse, Bo Hines, Billy McLaughlin, and May Davis Mailman—have announced their departures, all heading into the private sector. While the first Trump administration was marked by a near-92 percent turnover rate among top advisors, the current wave is more measured, driven as much by lifestyle choices as by the lure of lucrative paychecks. Fields’ new role at CGCN is expected to at least double his previous White House salary of $139,500, according to Daily Mail.
Matt Rhoades, Managing Partner at CGCN Group, was effusive in his praise for Fields: "As a veteran of the White House, the Trump 2024 campaign, and Capitol Hill, Harrison has consistently excelled at the highest levels of American politics. His communications experience and deep understanding of the complexities of how Washington, DC really works today will be an invaluable asset to our firm. We are excited to welcome him to the growing CGCN team."
At CGCN, Fields will work on strategic communications projects, collaborating with a roster of senior officials—many of them also Trump administration alumni—including Ja’Ron Smith, Tim Pataki, Mike Catanzaro, and Sam Geduldig. Smith, who previously worked with Fields on President Trump’s Opportunity Agenda 1.0, welcomed him warmly: "Thrilled to have Harrison Fields join us. We worked together on President Trump’s Opportunity Agenda 1.0, and now at CGCN we’ll bring that same results-driven energy to advocacy and public relations."
CGCN has carved out a reputation for amplifying voices aligned with Trump’s coalition, hosting high-profile events with figures like Doug Burgum, Chris Wright, Brooke Rollins, and Scott Bessent. Fields is expected to play a significant role in upcoming strategic communications projects, including a Breitbart-branded speakers’ series and events for organizations such as the Black Blockchain Association. He’ll also work closely with Rhoades, Smith, and Geduldig on lobbying initiatives, further cementing the firm’s influence in Republican circles.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was quick to acknowledge Fields’ contributions: "I’d like to thank my dear friend Harrison for his dedicated service in the White House Press Office as Principal Deputy Press Secretary. He has been a trusted and steady presence throughout both Trump administrations, and his loyalty, commitment, and leadership have made a lasting impact. We are grateful for his service and wish him all the best in his next chapter."
But what’s driving these departures? According to Daily Mail, the reasons are varied. For some, like Fields, it’s about new opportunities and the chance to continue supporting the MAGA movement from a different vantage point. For others, family life and personal well-being are key. May Davis Mailman, for example, is 30 weeks pregnant and had been commuting weekly from Houston to Washington, D.C. She told Daily Mail, "The realities of life, like living with my family and having my third child, made this transition an apparent and necessary one."
Financial incentives also play a role. Trent Morse is launching his own lobbying shop after earning $175,000 at the White House, while Bo Hines has joined cryptocurrency firm Tether immediately after Trump signed the GENIUS Act regulating digital currencies. Billy McLaughlin, who helped generate billions of views and added 16 million followers to White House digital accounts, is returning to his own digital PR firm. He shrugged off suggestions that his exit was related to the controversial debut of the White House on TikTok, telling Daily Mail, "We’ll keep crushing digital. Democrats will keep sucking at it."
Some critics, like Dan Auble of Open Secrets, warn that the revolving door raises concerns about government officials making decisions with an eye on future private sector employment. "While it is now commonplace, it is still concerning to have people trading on their government experience and worse, for government officials to be thinking about their future private sector employment while making decisions that should be solely guided by the public interest," Auble told Daily Mail.
Others, however, see the current trend as less about chaos and more about opportunity. Jeff Hauser, executive director at the Revolving Door Project, noted, "While the revolving door is hardly a novel phenomenon under Trump, it does matter more than ever because the federal government is evolving more rapidly than at any time since World War II." The personal relationships forged in Trump’s world, Hauser added, offer "an incredible boost" to corporations seeking to engage with the West Wing.
As for Fields, his role as Principal Deputy Press Secretary was never a quiet one. In a recent interview with Breitbart News Daily, he described the Trump White House’s communications strategy as operating with “all gas, no brakes,” a nod to its aggressive approach to media and policy messaging. Trump himself has praised Fields’ television appearances, and few doubt that he will continue to be a visible advocate for the MAGA movement even as he transitions to the private sector.
For all the attention on Washington’s revolving door, the stories behind each departure are as individual as the people making them. Whether driven by ambition, family, or simply the next big challenge, Fields and his fellow aides are charting new courses—ones that will almost certainly keep them in the orbit of power for years to come.
