Omar Bennett
The Executive Branch is one of the three branches of the US government. It includes the President, Vice President, presidential advisors, and Cabinet, as well as 15 executive departments, hundreds of other bureaus, and agencies. The number of people working for the federal government was about 3 million at the end of 2024, with around 2.3 million of them being full-time employees. However, one source states that 4 million people work in the Executive Branch, including national park rangers, FBI agents, scientists, and astronauts.
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What You'll Learn
Federal employment numbers
The federal government is a significant employer, with 3 million people employed across various departments and agencies. Most federal agencies are under the federal executive branch, which includes the President, Vice President, presidential advisors, Cabinet, 15 executive departments, and numerous bureaus and agencies. The day-to-day enforcement and administration of federal laws are the responsibility of the Cabinet and independent federal agencies.
The Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Homeland Security are among the federal offices with the highest personnel numbers. The Department of Defense, with its main offices at the Pentagon in Virginia, employs the most people in that state, followed by the Navy and the Army. In Maryland, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Navy, and the Army are the top federal employers. California's federal employees primarily work for the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Navy.
The federal workforce is comparable in size to the information industry, which includes publishing, broadcasting, and telecommunications, and employs just over 3 million people. It is significantly smaller than the nation's largest workforce, professional and business services, and the second-largest, healthcare and social assistance, with 21.5 million employees.
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The Executive Office of the President
The EOP has a wide range of responsibilities, from communicating the President's message to the American people to promoting the nation's trade interests abroad. It includes offices such as the White House Office, which comprises the staff working most closely with the President, including West Wing staff. The National Security Council, Homeland Security Council, Office of Management and Budget, Council of Economic Advisers, and Office of Science and Technology Policy are also part of the EOP. These offices and agencies provide specialised support and expertise to the President, ensuring they have the necessary information and advice to make informed decisions.
The size of the EOP staff has grown significantly over the years. In the 19th century, presidents had very limited staff resources, often relying on just a few individuals for support. By the early 20th century, the White House staff had expanded to include a "secretary to the president," assistant secretaries, executive clerks, and other personnel. The EOP continued to expand, and by 2009, estimates placed the staff size at around 3,000 to 4,000 individuals with policymaking responsibilities.
The EOP is overseen by the White House Chief of Staff, who plays a crucial role in managing the office and ensuring the President has the necessary support. The Chief of Staff can delegate tasks and decide which matters require the President's personal attention, making them a vital link between the President and the rest of the EOP staff.
The EOP is often referred to as the "permanent government" because many policy programs and their implementing officials remain in place across different presidential administrations. The civil servants within the EOP are expected to be nonpartisan and politically neutral, providing objective and impartial advice to the President regardless of their political affiliation. This continuity and nonpartisanship ensure stability and consistency in the execution of policies.
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Federal agencies
The federal government employs a significant number of people, with over 3 million federal jobs as of 2024. While the exact number of individuals working specifically within federal agencies is not readily available, it is important to note that most federal agencies fall under the federal executive branch. These agencies encompass a diverse range of departments, each with its unique responsibilities and missions.
The Department of Defense, for example, has its main offices at the Pentagon in Virginia and is one of the largest employers of federal workers, with 775,100 personnel in 2023. The Department of Veterans Affairs is another significant employer, with approximately 433,700 employees. Other notable federal agencies include the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Navy, and the Army.
The roles fulfilled by federal agencies are extensive and varied. They include critical tasks such as conducting health and social science research, responding to disease outbreaks, ensuring food and drug safety, supporting health programs, and administering Medicare and Medicaid. Additionally, agencies like the Department of Homeland Security are tasked with preventing and disrupting terrorist attacks, protecting critical infrastructure, and responding to incidents.
The President's Executive Office (EOP) is another essential component of the executive branch, providing direct support to the President. The EOP undertakes tasks such as communicating the President's message to the American people and promoting trade interests abroad.
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The legislative branch
Congress has the power to make laws, while the Executive Branch is responsible for enforcing them. Each Congress lasts for two years, and at the end of each Congress, all pending bills that have not been enacted die. The legislative process is often long and difficult, and it is easier to kill a bill than to enact one. Congressional staffers typically start their careers by working on a political campaign or interning in a Member's office. They then work their way up from junior positions such as Staff Assistant, Caseworker, and Legislative Correspondent to senior positions such as Legislative Assistant, Press Secretary, Legislative Director, Communications Director, Administrative Assistant, and Chief of Staff.
There are about 31,000 congressional staffers within the Legislative Branch. Of the 3.0 million people employed by the federal government across all three branches, around 2.3 million are full-time employees.
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Federal workforce size
The federal workforce size is just over 3 million people as of September 2024. This number includes employees across the three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. Most federal agencies are under the federal executive branch. The federal workforce is the 15th-largest workforce across all US industries, comparable to the information industry (publishing, broadcasting, telecommunications), which employs just over 3 million people. The federal workforce is relatively small compared to the nation's largest workforce, professional and business services, which include scientific and technical services.
Federal employment numbers peaked at 3.4 million in 1990 and hit their lowest point in 2014, with 2.7 million. Between January and November 2024, the number of federal employees grew by about 27,000 people. Of the 3 million people employed by the federal government, around 2.3 million were full-time employees. Federal offices with the most personnel in 2023 were all military programs under the Defense Department (775,100 people), the Department of Veterans Affairs (433,700), and the Department of Homeland Security (212,000). The Federal Trade Commission, National Credit Union Administration, National Labor Relations Board, and Civil Defense Programs had the fewest employees, with about 1,000 each.
The executive branch includes the president, vice president, presidential advisors, and Cabinet, 15 executive departments, and hundreds of other bureaus and agencies. The power of the executive branch is vested in the President of the United States, who acts as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and is responsible for enforcing the laws written by Congress. The President appoints the heads of the federal agencies, including the Cabinet, and has the power to sign legislation into law or veto bills enacted by Congress. The President also conducts diplomacy with other nations and can issue executive orders.
The exact number of people employed by the executive branch is unclear, but it is estimated to be around 4 million. This includes positions such as national park rangers, FBI agents, scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and astronauts at NASA. There are also 1000+ positions in the executive branch appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2024, there were 3 million federal jobs, making up 1.9% of all employee jobs in the US. The federal government is the 15th-largest workforce in the country.
The Executive Branch includes the President, Vice President, presidential advisors, Cabinet, 15 executive departments, and hundreds of other bureaus and agencies.
People working for the Executive Branch play a variety of critical roles, such as issuing passports, maintaining public lands, printing money, monitoring the economy, and supporting health programs.
