Thomas B. Modly, the acting Navy secretary, resigned after he was criticized for his response to an outbreak of the novel coronavirus aboard the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt.

On the same day, Kayleigh McEnany was announced as the White House press secretary, replacing Stephanie Grisham, who is rejoining the staff of Melania Trump, the first lady — the latest shake-up in a communications office that has seen almost constant turnover under President Trump. It is not yet clear if there will be a replacement for Ms. Grisham’s role as communications chief.

Cabinet/federal agency White House Forced out Resigned

Mr. Trump has the record for White House and cabinet churn in a president’s first term, according to Kathryn Dunn Tenpas, a scholar at the Brookings Institution who wrote a presidential staff turnover study.

Some roles have been more volatile than others.

Communications chief 7 Moved 6 Resigned 5 Resigned 4 Fired 3 Interim 2 Resigned 1 Dir. of national intelligence 5 Nominated 4 Acting 3 Interim 2 Withdrew 1 Forced out Secretary of homeland security 5 Acting 4 Resigned 3 Forced out 2 Interim 1 Moved National security adviser 5 Current 4 Fired 3 Forced out 2 Interim 1 Fired Secretary of health and human services 4 Current 3 Interim 2 Interim 1 Forced out Secretary of veterans affairs 4 Current 3 Withdrew 2 Interim 1 Fired Chief of staff 4 Current 3 Forced out 2 Forced out 1 Forced out Press secretary 4 Current 3 Moved 2 Resigned 1 Resigned Attorney general 3 Current 2 Interim 1 Forced out Secretary of Defense 3 Current 2 Withdrew 1 Resigned Secretary of Labor 3 Current 2 Interim 1 Forced out Administrator of Small Business Administration 3 Current 2 Interim 1 Resigned Budget director 2 Acting 1 Moved E.P.A. administrator 2 Current 1 Forced out Secretary of Interior 2 Current 1 Resigned Secretary of state 2 Current 1 Fired C.I.A. director 2 Current 1 Moved Chief economic adviser 2 Current 1 Resigned

“The disruption is highly consequential,” Max Stier, the president and chief executive of the Partnership for Public Service, a nonprofit organization that specializes in federal government management issues. “When you lose a leader, it has a cascade effect throughout the organization.”

A New York Times analysis of 21 top White House and cabinet positions back to President Bill Clinton’s first term shows how unusual the Trump administration’s upheaval was through the first 14 months of a presidency. Nine of these positions had turned over at least once during the Trump administration, compared with three at the same point of the Clinton administration, two under President Barack Obama and one under President George W. Bush.

Turnover in Each Administration’s First 14th MonthsNumber of people who held a position

Donald J. Trump (through March 2018) Barack Obama George W. Bush Bill Clinton

On several occasions, Mr. Trump has filled newly open positions with officials already in his administration. He chose Mike Pompeo, the C.I.A. director, to replace Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson, and Mr. Pompeo’s deputy, Gina Haspel, to replace Mr. Pompeo. Hope Hicks, a longtime aide and confidant, took over communications after Mr. Scaramucci’s disastrous tenure. And Kirstjen Nielsen crisscrossed from the Department of Homeland Security to the White House and then back again (before leaving the administration).

“There’s a pull to fill from within, but that’s often a bad idea,” Mr. Stier said. “Not only does it create a new vacancy but you’re also not expanding the talent pool. One of the primary leadership challenges is getting information from outside the bubble you exist in.”

Full List of Major Departures