WASHINGTON, DC — White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer will soon be leaving his current role in the administration to take on a more senior position in the administration, according to multiple outlets, including Fox Business and Politico. Officials have not yet found a replacement for Spicer, according to the reports.

"We have sought input from many people as we look to expand our communications operation," the White House said in a statement to Fox Business. "As he did in the beginning, Sean Spicer is managing both the communications and press office." (For more information on this and other political stories, subscribe to the White House Patch for daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.) According to the Fox Business report, Spicer's new role will be higher than that of communications director; he will be stepping into a position close to that of a deputy chief of staff. Politico reports that Fox News' Laura Ingraham and Daily Mail editor David Martosko are under consideration to be the White House press secretary, but no final decision has been made.

Previous reports have suggested that President Trump was unhappy with Spicer's performance and may have been looking to fire him. On Monday, Spicer held an off-camera press gaggle, eschewing the on-camera briefing yet again. In recent weeks, the White House had held a reduced number of televised press briefings, following Trump's public statements suggesting he might end the practice altogether.

"Make no mistake about what we are all witnessing. This is a WH that is stonewalling the news media. Hiding behind no camera/no audio gaggles," said CNN Senior White House Correspondent Jim Acosta on Twitter. "There is a suppression of information going on at this WH that would not be tolerated at a city council mtg or press conf with a state gov." He added: "Call me old fashioned but I think the White House of the United States of America should have the backbone to answer questions on camera."

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