The number of individuals with direct access to the president will be more limited when Donald Trump takes office as incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles seeks to streamline the new West Wing operation. In an effort to tighten the lines of communication with Trump, the transition team is cutting back on the number of top White House staff given the designation of “Assistant to the President,” which provides a staffer the privileges to walk into the Oval Office and bring non-staff guests in to meet with the president. During Trump’s first administration, a greater number of top staff were given latitude to communicate directly with Trump.