Simone Lawson
The size of the White House staff has increased over the years, with the number of employees growing from one secretary to the president and a handful of other staff in 1900 to approximately 1,800 positions as of 2015. The White House staff includes a mix of political appointees, civil servants, and other personnel who work to support the president and the executive branch of the US government. The staff is led by the White House Chief of Staff and includes various offices and agencies, such as the White House Office, the National Security Council, and the Office of Management and Budget. The number of staff members can vary depending on the administration and the specific needs and priorities of the president. For example, the Biden White House staff included around 500 employees as of July 1, 2023, with some staff being detailees temporarily assigned from other agencies.
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Staff numbers:
The number of employees in the White House has varied over the years. In the 19th century, presidents had very few staff resources. For example, Thomas Jefferson had just one messenger and one secretary, both of whom he paid for out of his own pocket. By 1900, the White House staff had expanded to include one "secretary to the president", two assistant secretaries, two executive clerks, a stenographer, and seven other office personnel.
Under Warren G. Harding, the number of staff increased to 31, although most were in clerical positions. During the Great Depression, Herbert Hoover added two additional secretaries to the president, one of whom became his press secretary. During this time, Franklin D. Roosevelt relied on a "brain trust" of top advisers, who were often appointed to vacant positions in agencies and departments as the White House lacked the authority to create new staff positions.
The size of the White House staff continued to grow in the 20th and 21st centuries, with the addition of policy experts and other specialists. By 2015, the White House staff included approximately 1,800 positions, most of which did not require confirmation from the U.S. Senate. The number of staff can also vary depending on the administration. For example, the Biden White House had 560 staff members as of July 1, 2021, 474 staff members as of July 1, 2022, and 564 staff members as of July 1, 2024.
It's worth noting that the White House staff includes both permanent employees and detailees who are temporarily assigned from other agencies or departments. The number of detailees can vary as well, with 26 in 2021, 63 in 2022, 62 in 2024, and 70 in 2023. The remaining staff members are employees, with 536 in 2021, 411 in 2022, 502 in 2024, and 454 in 2023.
In addition to the staff in the White House, there are also employees in the Executive Office of the President, which includes several offices and agencies such as the White House Office, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council, and the Office of Management and Budget. The Eisenhower Executive Office Building houses most of these staff members.
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Staff pay:
Staff pay at the White House varies depending on the role and level of seniority. The size of the White House staff has increased over time, with an array of policy experts and other specialists now supporting the president. As of 2015, the White House staff included approximately 1,800 positions, most of which did not require confirmation from the U.S. Senate.
During the Biden administration, staff pay varied widely. As of July 1, 2024, the highest-paid staff member was Michelle Barrans, a detailee serving as associate counsel, with an annual salary of $251,258. There were 106 staff members who earned an annual salary of $150,000 or more, with 21 of these receiving a salary of $180,000 or above. Notably, 11 staff members received no salary, with the majority of these being policy advisors.
The previous year, in 2023, the highest-paid staff member was Demetre Daskalakis, a detailee serving as the deputy coordinator for the monkeypox response, with an annual salary of $260,718. This year, 91 staff members earned an annual salary of $150,000 or more, with 41 of these earning $180,000 or more. There were 19 staff members who received no salary, with the majority (12) being policy advisors.
In 2022, the Biden White House included 474 staff members, with 63 detailees and 411 employees. The highest-paid staff member in 2021 was Molly Groom, a policy advisor for immigration, with an annual salary of $185,656. Twenty-four staff members earned $180,000 or more, while 41 received no salary.
Historically, the size and structure of the White House staff have evolved. In the 19th century, Thomas Jefferson had just one messenger and one secretary, both of whom he paid for personally. By 1900, the White House staff had expanded to include one "secretary to the president," two assistant secretaries, two executive clerks, a stenographer, and seven other office personnel. During the administration of Warren G. Harding, there were 31 staff members, most of whom held clerical positions.
The White House Office, a subunit within the Executive Office of the President, is headed by the White House Chief of Staff, who manages the White House staff system. Senior staff with high-level, close contact with the president have the title "Assistant to the President." Second-level staff are "Deputy Assistant to the President," and third-level staff are "Special Assistant to the President." These staff members work directly for and report to the president, including West Wing staff and senior advisors.
The White House staff structure and pay scales can vary across administrations, with each president having some discretion in organizing the White House Office. The issues confronting the nation require the president to draw on the expertise of others, and the role of chiefs of staff and their degree of policy advice can differ between administrations.
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Staff roles:
Staff roles in the White House are diverse and encompass a range of responsibilities, from advising the president on policy matters to managing daily operations. The size of the staff has evolved over the years, with the number of employees varying across different administrations. Here is an overview of staff roles within the White House:
The Executive Office of the President (EOP) forms the core of the White House staff. It comprises various offices and agencies that support the president's work, including the White House Office, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Council of Economic Advisers. The White House Office, headed by the White House Chief of Staff, includes the president's senior advisers and West Wing staff. These senior staff members hold titles such as Assistant to the President, Deputy Assistant to the President, and Special Assistant to the President. They work in close proximity to the president and play a crucial role in shaping policy agendas and communications.
The White House staff also includes policy experts and specialists who advise the president on specific issues. These advisers may be temporarily assigned to the White House from other agencies or departments, known as detailees. Their expertise covers a range of policy areas such as immigration, economic policy, national security, and cyber and emerging technologies.
Additionally, the White House employs a significant number of personnel responsible for the daily operations and maintenance of the Executive Mansion. This includes roles such as secretaries, executive clerks, stenographers, and other administrative staff. The size of this group has expanded over time, reflecting the increasing complexity of the White House's operations and the impact of technological advancements.
The number of staff members in the White House can vary depending on the president's needs and the changing requirements of the office. As of July 1, 2024, the Biden White House had approximately 564 staff members, including detailees and employees. This number had fluctuated in previous years, with 560 staff members in 2021, 474 in 2022, and 524 in 2023.
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Staff history:
The size of the White House staff has expanded over the years, from a handful of staff in the 19th century to a large and organizationally complex group of nearly 2,000 employees today. Thomas Jefferson, for instance, had just one messenger and one secretary, both of whom he paid for out of his own pocket. By 1900, the White House staff had grown to include one "secretary to the president", two assistant secretaries, two executive clerks, a stenographer, and seven other office personnel.
During the presidency of Herbert Hoover, Congress added two more secretaries to the president's staff, one of whom Hoover designated as his press secretary. Franklin D. Roosevelt, who served from 1933 to 1939, relied on a "brain trust" of top advisers, who were often appointed to vacant positions in agencies and departments. This was because the White House lacked the statutory or budgetary authority to create new staff positions.
The size of the White House staff began to increase more rapidly in the 20th century, particularly with the creation of the Executive Office of the President in 1939. This office includes several subunits, such as the White House Office, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council, and the Office of Management and Budget. The White House Office, in particular, is made up of the president's closest advisers and West Wing staff.
The number of staff in the White House has continued to grow in recent years, with the Biden administration employing around 500 staff members as of July 1, 2023, and 564 as of July 1, 2024. This includes both employees and detailees who are temporarily assigned to the White House from other agencies or departments.
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Staff organisation:
The White House staff is part of the Executive Office of the President of the United States (EOP), which includes various offices and agencies that support the president. The White House Office (WHO) is a subunit of the EOP and is the entity that most closely works with the president, including the West Wing staff and the president's senior advisers. The WHO is led by the White House Chief of Staff, who manages the White House staff system and oversees the day-to-day operations, deliberations, policy agendas, and public communications.
The White House staff is organised into three levels, with different titles and levels of proximity to the president. The first level, or senior staff, have the title "Assistant to the President" and work in close contact with the president. The second level, or second-level staff, have the title "Deputy Assistant to the President", and the third level, or third-level staff, have the title "Special Assistant to the President". The majority of the White House Office staff are political appointees of the president, and they can be dismissed at the president's discretion.
The number of staff in the White House has increased over time due to technological and global advancements, and as of 2015, the White House staff included approximately 1,800 positions. The specific number of staff can vary depending on the administration and their needs. For example, the Biden White House staff included 564 members as of July 1, 2024, with 502 employees and 62 detailees temporarily assigned from other agencies.
The White House staff includes a range of roles, such as policy advisors, assistants, deputy assistants, special assistants, and coordinators, who work together to support the president and ensure the smooth functioning of the White House.
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Frequently asked questions
The number of employees in the White House has changed over time. As of July 1, 2024, the Biden White House included 564 staff members, with 502 employees and 62 detailees. As of July 1, 2023, there were 524 staff members, with 454 employees and 70 detailees. The number of staff members has increased over the years, with 474 staff members in 2022, and 560 in 2021.
The Executive Office of the President of the United States (EOP) includes several offices and agencies that support the President, such as the White House Office, the National Security Council, and the Office of Management and Budget. The EOP is a large and complex organization, and while the exact number of employees is not readily available, it is estimated to include around 1,800 positions as of 2015.
The size of the White House staff has increased over the years due to technological and global advancements, requiring an array of policy experts. In 1900, the White House staff included one "secretary to the president", two assistant secretaries, two executive clerks, a stenographer, and seven other office personnel. Under Warren G. Harding, there were thirty-one staff members, mostly in clerical positions. During Herbert Hoover's presidency, Congress added two additional secretaries to the president.
The Executive Mansion, with its 132 rooms, requires approximately 90 employees to complete daily tasks. These employees must be flexible and adaptable, as each day brings new challenges and responsibilities.
