US President Donald Trump has abruptly replaced the director of federal personnel with a top official at the Office of Management and Budget, according to the White House.

On Friday, White House said in a brief statement Margaret Weichert, who serves as deputy director for management at the White House Office of Management and Budget, will helm the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in an acting capacity "in addition to her current duties", reports The Hill magazine. Weichert will replace Jeff Pon, a business executive who had been in the post just since March.