Report: Effort Underway to Remove Top Commerce Aide

The White House is forcing out a top aide to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross after the failed effort to get a citizenship question on the census and amid fights over policy, Politico reported.

Commerce policy director Earl Comstock has angered President Donald Trump's acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, White House lawyers, members of the National Security Council, and officials at the National Economic Council, Politico reported, citing five unnamed sources.

One source told Politico he could not think of anyone who "had pissed off as many senior White House officials" as Comstock.

But, according to Politico, although the process of pushing out Comstock through a firing or resignation is underway, the actual date of his departure is unclear.

A Commerce spokesperson denied Comstock was leaving, Politico reported.

Comstock's role in failing to put the citizenship question on the U.S. census was the latest high-profile blow for him, adding to views he is not executing President Donald Trump's agenda, according to Politico. The ire does not appear to extend to Ross, Politico reported.

Comstock has also clashed with Trump administration officials on a number of policy issues, including spectrum and net neutrality, Politico reported.

• Trump Administration Denies Possible Ouster of Commerce Secretary Ross
• Trump's Tariffs Stall All-American RV Industry