“It’s sheer incompetence,” said another White House official. “There’s a lack of management, and a lack of strategy.”…

Some contended that, in such a free-wheeling atmosphere, Priebus has struggled to provide structure. Several aides expressed unhappiness with the daily 8 a.m. senior staff meeting that he runs out of his office. With three flat screen TVs usually on, the agenda is sometimes driven by that day’s news programs. The gatherings, which often last only between 15 and 20 minutes, are typically organized round-robin style, with department heads giving 30-second updates on whatever it is they’re working on.

If an item someone mentions is important, it will result in a later sidebar conversation among a smaller team of top officials. If it isn’t, it’s often forgotten about.

Some staffers roll their eyes as Priebus reiterates the need for them to not leak to the press, or as he stresses that if they want to talk to the president they need to go through him or one of his lieutenants, Katie Walsh.

“No one says anything of relevance,” said one senior staffer. “People are more than happy to schedule a breakfast and send their deputy now.”