Kal Penn to leave White House again

(Photo Credit: Reuters)

Kal Penn is saying goodbye to the White House once again. This time, the actor will give up his gig in the Obama administration for a role on the CBS sitcom “How I Met Your Mother.”

Penn — who co-starred in the “Harold and Kumar” movies and appeared on the television drama “House” — switched gears from acting to politics in 2009 when he took a job at the White House. As an associate director in the Office of Public Engagement, Penn wasn’t earning the big bucks he made in Hollywood, collecting a $41,000 annual salary.

Last year, Penn left the position for a few months to shoot “A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas,” but he wasn’t gone for long.

When he chose to return in November, the administration welcomed him back with open arms.

Will the White House door keep revolving for Penn? That’s not clear, but he'll leave this month with his co-workers' best wishes. White House spokesman Shin Inouye said Thursday, “We deeply appreciate his service and wish him the best in his future endeavors.”