White House digital chief leaves after failing FBI security checks

The incoming White House chief digital officer was unable to take up the post due to failing background checks, it has been revealed.

Numerous US publications are reporting that Gerrit Lansing, who had been appointed CDO for the White House, did not pass FBI background checks and so left from the role around ten days ago.

The issue was said to be related to investments to his name, according to Politico, although the reports do not give any indication of to the nature of these investments or why they were problematic.

Lansing had been appointed to the role having served as the Republican National Committee's chief digital officer since 2015, helping overhaul several elements of its digital strategy.

Prior to that he served as digital director for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) where he made big moves to improve how the Republican Party used social media.

Unsurprisingly, this caught the eye of social media-obsessed president Donald Trump, who said in 2013 he was hearing that Lansing was doing "great work" on this area, recognising it was something that the Republicans needed to be doing.

I am hearing that @NRCC Digital Director @lansing is doing great work expanding and modernizing @GOP social media. Good - we need it.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 20, 2013

Five other staff members appointed to key White House positions were also turned away from their roles for failing similar FBI background checks.

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• Topics
• Management
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• Donald Trump
• Digital Leaders