Simone Lawson
The White House staff is a complex and multi-faceted entity, with a range of roles and responsibilities that support the President of the United States in their duties. At the top of this hierarchical structure is the White House Chief of Staff, who manages the overall staff system and acts as the president's right-hand person. The Chief of Staff is a political appointee of the president and has a great deal of influence due to their daily contact with the president and control of the Executive Office. The White House staff includes various assistants, advisors, and deputies, each with specific roles, such as the Domestic Policy Council, which coordinates and executes domestic policy, and the National Economic Council, which advises on economic policy. The staff system is designed to assist the president in addressing the myriad issues facing the nation, from economic policy to international relations, and to ensure the smooth operation of the White House as a powerful symbol of the nation.
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What You'll Learn
The Chief of Staff
The role of Chief of Staff was first created in 1939 during President Franklin D. Roosevelt's second term in office. The Chief of Staff is responsible for managing and designing the overall structure of the White House staff system, including selecting senior White House staffers and supervising their offices' activities. They also manage the flow of information to and from the President, directing and overseeing all policy development, and protecting the President's political interests.
The specific responsibilities of the Chief of Staff may vary depending on the administration and the President's preferences. While some Chiefs of Staff may provide a significant amount of policy advice, others may focus more on the managerial aspects of the role.
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The White House Office
The chief of staff is the most senior political appointee in the White House and does not require Senate confirmation. The position is known for its power and influence due to its daily contact with the president and control of the Executive Office. The chief of staff oversees the flow of information and decisions, directs policy development, protects the president's political interests, and negotiates with Congress leaders and Cabinet secretaries to implement the president's agenda.
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Presidential Departments
The White House Office is an entity within the Executive Office of the President of the United States (EOP). The White House Office is headed by the White House Chief of Staff, who is also the head of the Executive Office of the President. The staff work for and report directly to the president, including West Wing staff and the president's senior advisers. The Chief of Staff is a political appointee of the president of the United States who does not require Senate confirmation and who serves at the pleasure of the President. The Chief of Staff acts as the president's right-hand man, managing the flow of information to and from the Resolute desk, directing and overseeing all policy development, and protecting the president's political interests.
The Executive Office of the President was created in 1939 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to provide assistance to the president in performing his duties. The EOP has responsibility for tasks ranging from communicating the President’s message to the American people to promoting trade interests abroad. The EOP is overseen by the White House Chief of Staff and is home to many of the President’s closest advisers.
The White House Office is organized according to the wishes of each incumbent president and is directed by staff chosen by the president. Presidential boards, committees, and commissions function as subunits of the White House Office. The White House Office remains the center of the presidential staff system, with its top aides occupying most of the offices in the West Wing.
The White House offers internships within 16 different Presidential Departments. These include the Cabinet Affairs, Communications, Domestic Policy Council, National Economic Council, Digital Strategy, Legislative Affairs, Management & Administration, Political Strategy & Outreach, Presidential Correspondence, Public Engagement & Intergovernmental Affairs, First Lady, Vice President, White House Counsel, Presidential Personnel, Scheduling & Advance, and White House Fellows.
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White House Management
The White House staff ultimately report to the president, including West Wing staff and the president's senior advisers. The White House Office is an entity within the Executive Office of the President of the United States (EOP), and the staff are political appointees of the president who can be dismissed at their discretion. The White House Office is headed by the White House Chief of Staff, who is the most senior appointee and has daily contact with the president. The Chief of Staff is responsible for managing the flow of information to and from the president's desk, overseeing all policy development, and protecting the president's political interests. They are also the president's gatekeeper, overseeing every person, document, and communication that goes to the president.
The Chief of Staff is supported by several assistants and deputy chiefs of staff, who are also assistants to the president. These include assistants and deputy assistants for strategic implementation, operations, policy, legislative affairs, public affairs, and homeland security. There are also several special assistants to the president, who advise on policy for national security, economic affairs, and domestic policy.
The president has a great deal of discretion in how the White House Office is organized and can choose their staff. The office is structured to support the president in their duties, and some presidential boards and committees function as subunits of the White House Office. The Domestic Policy Council (DPC) advises the president and represents their priorities to Congress, while the National Economic Council (NEC) advises on economic policy. The Office of Cabinet Affairs acts as a liaison between the president and the Cabinet, while the Office of Digital Strategy amplifies the president's message through digital platforms.
The White House Management Office manages facilities, operations, and special projects, coordinating with other White House Offices and facilitating access for visitors. The Office of Presidential Correspondence handles communications to the president and the First Family, while the Office of Presidential Personnel oversees the selection process for presidential appointments.
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White House Residence Staff
The White House chief usher is the head of household staff and operations at the White House, overseeing a staff of approximately 90-100 people, including butlers, maids, housekeepers, chefs, cooks, doormen, florists, curators, electricians, plumbers, storekeepers, engineers, and others. The chief usher serves at the pleasure of the president and has no job tenure or civil service protections.
The position of chief usher was not established until 1891, in the administration of President Benjamin Harrison, though the term "chief usher" had been used by the press as early as 1887. The role of the chief usher includes creating and administering the budget for the Executive Residence, overseeing disbursements, purchasing supplies, and ensuring the safety and integrity of the White House's decorative arts and furnishings collections. The chief usher also oversees the first family's private and public life, meeting their needs and ensuring that events do not conflict.
The chief usher's office is located on the State Floor of the White House, off the Entrance Hall near the North Portico entrance. The office is linked to the Scheduling and Advance Office via an internal computer system that provides a minute-by-minute schedule for the president and first family and generates alerts for delays or changes.
The White House Residence Staff includes a variety of positions, such as room attendants, valets, engineers, and florists, who work to ensure the comfort and smooth operation of the White House as both a private residence and a public workplace.
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Frequently asked questions
The White House staff report directly to the president of the United States. The staff is led by the White House Chief of Staff, who is the most senior political appointee in the White House and has daily contact with the president.
As of January 20, 2025, Susie Wiles is the Chief of Staff.
The Chief of Staff is a manager of the White House staff system and acts as a gatekeeper for the president. They oversee the flow of information and decisions, direct policy development, and advise the president on various issues.
