Biden's Mammoth White House Staff: A Historic High with a Staggering Turnover Rate

President Biden's White House personnel has swelled to a record size since the Nixon era, accompanied by a remarkable 77% turnover rate. This extensive staff of 565 individuals, at a cost of nearly $61 million, has seen First Lady Jill Biden's staff count rise to match that of Michelle Obama and exceed that of Melania Trump.

President Biden's White House staff has expanded significantly, exceeding the record set by former President Richard Nixon. With 565 staffers, the current White House personnel surpasses the 560 employees that Biden had during his first year in office, according to Open the Books. This expansion has been a source of curiosity, given that Time magazine noted the "startling rapidity" of Nixon's staff growth in 1971.

First Lady Jill Biden's staff has grown to 24 members, matching the number employed by former First Lady Michelle Obama in 2009. This represents a significant increase from the 11 staff members employed by former First Lady Melania Trump. The first lady's staff, specializing in foreign policy, education, and healthcare, comes at an annual cost of $2.5 million.

Biden's Mammoth White House Staff: A Historic High with a Staggering Turnover Rate

Biden's White House staff far outstrips the number employed by his immediate predecessors. Former President Donald Trump had a staff of 413 in 2020, while former President Barack Obama had 468 staff members in 2012.

The president's current payroll of $60.8 million exceeds the highs seen under both Trump and Obama. Obama's highest payroll was $58.3 million, while Trump's was $52.2 million.

Biden's Mammoth White House Staff: A Historic High with a Staggering Turnover Rate

The highest-paid staffer in the Biden administration is Michelle Barrans, an associate counsel who receives a salary of $251,258. The second-highest-paid is Farah Ahmad, a special advisor for economic development, who earns $191,900.

Since taking office in 2021, Biden has experienced an overwhelming staff turnover rate of 77%. Of the original 560 employees, 435 have left.

Biden's Mammoth White House Staff: A Historic High with a Staggering Turnover Rate

A White House spokesperson acknowledged a 9% increase in staff over the past year. The spokesperson explained that the increase was driven by building out teams in specific policy areas, such as pandemic preparedness and gun violence prevention. The spokesperson also highlighted that vacancies filled over the past year were not reflected in the July 2023 report.

Biden's White House staff is the largest and most expensive since Nixon's presidency. While the White House has provided justification for the staff expansion, the high turnover rate raises questions about the efficiency and stability of the administration.

Biden's Mammoth White House Staff: A Historic High with a Staggering Turnover Rate