Trump appoints Katie Bailey to lead White House outreach to Congress ahead of midterms

WASHINGTON, DC: Donald Trump picked Katie Bailey, a familiar face in the White House, to handle the administration’s dealings with Congress.

With Republicans gearing up for a tough midterm election, he’s relying on someone he trusts. Bailey takes over as director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs, becoming the administration’s key liaison with lawmakers as the battle for control of the House and Senate intensifies.

Trump turns to a familiar face as Congress becomes a tougher battleground

In a post to Truth Social on Saturday night, Mr Trump confirmed the move, writing that Bailey "will be fantastic, and work tirelessly with Congress to pass Bills that help, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN."

Bailey will replace James Braid, who stepped down last month, as announced by Vice President JD Vance. 

Her arrival comes as Republicans defend narrow majorities in the House and Senate, with Democrats hoping to seize control and reshape the legislative battles awaiting the president in the second half of his term.

Vance also praised Braid, saying he "has done a fabulous job, and is now going into the private sector, where he will be very successful."

Braid had "one of the toughest jobs in the entire Administration as White House Legislative Director," Vance previously said. Braid's final day will be Tuesday. 

Bailey knows her way around the administration’s legislative efforts. Right now, she works as a special assistant to the president and as deputy director of legislative affairs. That means she’s actively involved in shaping Trump’s priorities into actual bills.

Before this, Bailey was legislative director for Senator Mike Braun of Indiana. She held that job for all six years Braun served in the Senate, and stayed through his switch to Indiana’s governor in January 2025.

She’s got plenty of insider experience, both from Capitol Hill and the White House, which helps the administration keep Republican lawmakers on board, even as the political climate gets tougher.

Midterm elections could make Katie Bailey’s new job even harder

Bailey steps in just weeks before the midterms, a crucial moment that will shape how much of Trump’s agenda makes it through Congress in the rest of his term.

Right now, Republicans barely control both the House and the Senate, so they can't afford to lose many votes. That makes tight races all the more critical.

If Democrats flip either chamber, the White House faces tougher opposition to its plans. Democrats would gain more control over hearings, investigations, and the overall direction of politics in Washington. The entire balance of power could shift.

Bailey does have experience in the current White House, though. She currently serves as both special assistant to the president and deputy director of legislative affairs.

Her experience means she already knows the lawmakers and understands the political system she’ll need to navigate. But there’s no time to settle in slowly.

The election is right around the corner, and Bailey has to jump in fast; her main task is keeping Republicans unified and driving the administration’s agenda, all while the party faces a high-stakes moment at the polls.