Again, I largely agree with that. The hostiliy of establishment DC made working in Trump’s Administration unsavory for people who were experienced and wanted to continue to work in and/or around DC.
With respect to that Vindman photo-op, that’s what that was, a photo-op. Vindman did not work in the White House, although his brother may have. I’m not sure. I know people who were on the staff with him. He worked in an annex...like the vast majority of NSC staffers do.
Granted, he was likely a semi-frequent visitor. But, the way that story was written (and several others from that day), it makes it seem that A) Trump is petulant and vindictive and Vindman was a major player in Trump’s White House. He wasn’t. He was just an O5 staffer, one of dozens on the NSC staff.
For good or bad most everybody just quit working in the swamp during Trump’s term in office.