In the 32 days since the government partially shut down, the lack of a cohesive strategy emanating from the White House communications team has frustrated people throughout the West Wing who have deemed the press shop "irrelevant." Asked who's in charge of messaging at the White House, press secretary Sarah Sanders told CNN in a statement: "It's the President's message." Power struggleThe briefing deficiency highlighted by the shutdown only encapsulates an ongoing power struggle that has existed among the West Wing communications team for months now, according to interviews with several current and former White House officials. Three -- Shine, Sanders and Conway -- were back again during his interview with two Washington Post reporters in later November. The White House has not filled the roles of many younger press aides who have departed, including in the "assistant press secretary" or "deputy press secretary" positions.

Source: CNN January 22, 2019 20:03 UTC