Mike Pence's chief of staff Nick Ayers refused to take Kelly's place because he wouldn't commit to 2 years

Republican chief of staff Nick Ayers refused to be the replacement for Gen. John Kelly, who plans to leave the White House at the end of the year.

According to CNN's Kaitlan Collins, Ayers wouldn't commit to working for two full years with the White House. Because the president and Ayers couldn't agree on a timeline, negotiations have failed.

Meanwhile, the White House doesn't have a contingency plan for Ayers not accepting the job.

Kelly had agreed to a timeline that would continue until the 2020 election, but just five months after making that commitment, President Donald Trump announced Kelly was leaving by the end of 2018.

"Thank you @realDonaldTrump, @VP, and my great colleagues for the honor to serve our Nation at The White House. I will be departing at the end of the year but will work with the #MAGA team to advance the cause," Ayers tweeted Sunday.