The recipients were executive assistant Natalie Harp, communications adviser Margo Martin and Chamberlain Harris, deputy director of Oval Office operations. Each earns $150,000 annually, making the $45,000 payments equivalent to about 30% of their yearly government salaries. Trump also gave Walt Nauta, director of Oval Office operations, a $20,000 holiday gift; Nauta earns $175,000 a year. The payments were disclosed in the aides’ annual financial filings and described as holiday cash gifts.

The White House has defended the payments as part of Trump’s longstanding practice of giving holiday gifts to people in his personal and professional orbit, saying they were unrelated to the recipients’ official duties. Former federal ethics officials, however, have raised questions about whether large payments from a president to government employees could violate restrictions on supplementing federal salaries or create concerns about employees becoming financially indebted to a superior. The disclosures come as Harp has received increased attention for her close proximity to Trump and role in providing him with printed news reports and social media material.

Sources: Associated Press, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and CNN.