Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao is resigning in the wake of the invasion of the Capitol building by "March for Trump" protesters, which was egged on by President Trump.
Why it matters: Chao is the first Cabinet secretary to resign and is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
The state of play: Chao plans to email her colleagues at the Department of Transportation to explain her reasoning, the source added. "It's specifically yesterday," a source told Axios' Jonathan Swan.
Draft of letter:
Why it matters: With just 13 days left in Trump's term, he has become increasingly isolated and hard to reach. Some of his close confidantes and most loyal aides have chosen to resign rather than defend his rhetoric.
Other resignations:
- Melania Trump's chief of staff Stephanie Grisham, who previously served as White House press secretary.
- Deputy press secretary Sarah Matthews, who said she was "deeply disturbed" by Wednesday's events and called for a peaceful transition of power.
- Deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger.
- Deputy assistant secretary of commerce for intelligence and security Rick Costello, who said the "unprecedented attack" was "incited" by Trump.
- Social secretary Rickie Niceta.
- Special envoy to Northern Ireland Mick Mulvaney, who previously served as White House chief of staff, told CNBC: "I can’t do it. I can’t stay."
- Acting chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers Tyler Goodspeed told the New York Times: "The events of yesterday made my position no longer tenable."
This story is developing and will be updated.