The White House on Tuesday shuffled its communications team, with Anita Dunn stepping down as expected and her deputy taking over day-to-day management of President Barack Obama's vaunted messaging machine.

Dan Pfeiffer will become White House communications director and Dunn will became a consultant to Obama's White House, officials said. They expect the full transition to take place before the end of the year.

"Anita working part-time is what most people do full-time," White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett told The Associated Press. "She'll still be a strong presence within the senior team."

Dunn, a seasoned political operative, advised Obama's presidential bid and helped shape its outreach efforts to female voters. She also joined an inner-circle that was heavy on male voices during the marathon presidential campaign.

"She really has earned the president's and the first lady's respect, and she's been a team player," Jarrett said. "She's the strongest advocate you can have on your team."

Dunn initially refused to move to the White House, saying she wanted to spend time with her family. But when the White House's first communications director, Ellen Moran, stepped down to take a job at the Commerce Department, Dunn came aboard on an interim basis.

"She's actually stayed longer that we could have imagined," Jarrett said.

Jarrett, one of Obama's closest friends at the White House, said the president had expected Dunn to scale back her role for a while.

"He has checked in on her on a regular basis and I think she's been clear throughout that the fall was supposed to be her end date," Jarrett said. Continued...