White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles sent a strict warning to all White House staff in late March, telling them they were not allowed to speak to the press without permission. The directive was obtained by Politico‘s West Wing Playbook. On the very same day the warning went out, someone leaked it to the press, making the whole situation deeply ironic.
In the email, Wiles made her position clear: “No staff member within the Executive Office of the President is permitted to speak with members of the news media without the explicit approval of the White House Communications Office.” The policy carries serious consequences, including termination for anyone who breaks the rule. It was a firm and direct message, leaving no room for interpretation.
Wiles also warned in the email that unauthorized leaks can disrupt ongoing operations and even put national security at risk. White House spokesperson Liz Huston backed up the directive, saying that staff are subject to a “strict zero-tolerance policy” against speaking to the media without explicit authorization from the Communications team. The White House made it clear this was not a suggestion; it was a hard rule with real consequences.
The leak of the anti-leak memo shows just how deep the White House’s leak problem really goes
Wiles had reportedly become “generally very frustrated with leaks” before sending out the email, which is understandable given the number of times sensitive information has found its way to reporters in recent months. The fact that the warning itself was leaked on the same day it was issued made the situation all the more striking. This comes as the Trump administration is also facing scrutiny over other internal policy decisions, including how it plans to handle AI oversight.
It is not clear whether the leak was a deliberate act meant to send a message, or simply the work of a staff member who got hold of the email and passed it along. Either way, it showed that the administration’s effort to clamp down on leaks is running into serious resistance from within. The speed of the leak suggested that whoever shared it did not hesitate, which points to a culture inside the White House where the anti-leak effort may have little real effect.
The broader pattern of leaks from this administration has been a persistent problem since the early days of Trump’s return to the White House. Sensitive details about meetings, policy discussions, and internal disagreements have regularly surfaced in the press, often within hours of taking place. Wiles’ email was clearly a response to this ongoing issue, but the fact that it leaked so quickly suggests the problem runs deeper than a single directive can fix.
Wiles has been more careful about her own dealings with the press in recent months. Her candid interview with Vanity Fair in December caused significant controversy inside the White House, and she has since pulled back from that kind of open access. That interview was seen by many inside the administration as an example of exactly the kind of unfiltered press engagement that Wiles is now trying to discourage in others.
During a recent interview, Wiles was asked whether she still backchannels to reporters. She joked that she would get in trouble at the White House if she did. It was a clear sign that she is now more guarded, though it remains to be seen whether that caution will be enough to stop the flow of leaks from others.
The administration has also been dealing with public criticism on economic issues, including Trump’s claims about falling gas prices while many Americans continue to pay high rates at the pump. The situation has put a spotlight on how difficult it is for the administration to control the flow of information.
Even a memo specifically designed to stop leaks could not stay internal for a single day, which speaks to how widespread the problem has become inside the White House. Unless the source of the leaks is identified and removed, directives like this one are unlikely to change much.
Published: May 9, 2026 12:30 pm