WASHINGTON—Rick Dearborn, one of President Donald Trump’s top aides, will step down early next year to pursue private-sector work, White House officials said, becoming the latest high-profile departure from the West Wing in recent weeks.

“Rick loyally served the president for two and a half years and brought tremendous energy to the White House staff,” White House Chief of Staff John Kelly said. “He’s a super guy and it breaks my heart to see him leave, but I look forward to his continued personal friendship and support for the president’s agenda.”

A deputy chief of staff who oversaw the White House’s political operation, public outreach and legislative affairs, Mr. Dearborn will remain at the White House for the first month or two of next year, according to people familiar with the planning.

Mr. Dearborn’s decision comes after Dina Powell, the deputy national security adviser, informed Mr. Trump earlier this month about her plans to leave in the new year. The White House is bracing for a raft of departures as the president hits the one-year mark in office.

Mr. Dearborn has worked for Mr. Trump for more than two years. He helped set up the campaign’s Washington office and was executive director of the presidential transition team after the election.


As deputy chief of staff in the White House, Mr. Dearborn oversaw a wide portfolio. Inside the West Wing, he’s credited as a key member of the team—Mr. Kelly made a pitch to keep him on Wednesday, officials said. But his tenure was marked by some bruising experiences: the political shop suffered a pair of defeats when Mr. Trump endorsed the losing candidate in the Alabama Senate primary, and then again in the general election. The office of public liaison, which is the main connection between the White House and the public, doesn’t have a director.

Mr. Dearborn, who told friends he had planned to leave government service two years ago, views this week’s congressional passage of a sweeping tax plan as a finale for his White House service, he told others in the White House.

Before joining Mr. Trump’s team, Mr. Dearborn was a longtime Senate aide. He was chief of staff for then-Sen. Jeff Sessions and worked for former Sen. Bob Kasten of Wisconsin.

“Rick has been a real stalwart,” said Gary Cohn, the president’s top economic adviser. “I’ve really relied on him as part of the tax team.”


Write to Michael C. Bender at Mike.Bender@wsj.com