President Joe Biden has wasted no time filling out his White House staff, employing 567 people at a projected cost of $200 million over his four-year term.
That is compared to the Trump administration, which spent $164.3 million between 2017 and 2020, and the Obama administration spending $188.5 million between 2009 and 2012, both of which were adjusted for inflation.
The current White House’s payroll is the most expensive in America’s history—at nearly $50 million in annual cost. That is 190 more employees than Donald Trump’s 377, and 80 more than Barack Obama’s 487 at the same time in their respective presidencies.
The highest-paid Biden employee is Molly Groom, making $185,656 as policy adviser for immigration, a crisis issue for the administration. Followed closely behind is Elizabeth Hone, earning $183,164 as senior policy adviser for broadband.
>>>Search the payroll at OpenTheBooks.com for specific employees, their titles and pay.
First lady Jill Biden has 12 staffers—with five also serving the president in some capacity—while former first lady Melania Trump had five staffers in her first year, 2017.
In 2009, former first lady Michelle Obama was criticized for her bloated staff of 24 assistants, advisers, aides, and social secretaries, while former first lady Laura Bush had a staff of 18 in her first year.
While the White House payroll is a fraction of the $4-plus trillion federal budget, the president’s willingness to increase the staff could very well be a leading indicator of his commitment to expand the size, scope, and power of the federal government at large.
This article was originally published by RealClearPolicy.
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