Politico’s West Wing Playbook reports that Biden White House staffers are “eyeing the exits,” according to confidential and anonymous conversations that Politico has had with staffers.
“A lot of the natural coordination that happens in a typically functioning White House has been lost, and there has been no proactive effort to make up for it through intentional team building,” one White House official explained to Politico.
But “others say it’s just poor management.”
Indeed, the figures show not just poor management, but bloated management.
Politico: “Many [White House staffers] are also currently eyeing the exits, creating the potential for higher-than-usual turnover at the beginning of the year, when aides feel they’ve been in the job long enough that it won’t look odd to depart.”
— Josh Kraushaar (@HotlineJosh) December 22, 2021
In June, Biden was criticized for having the most expensive White House staff in the history of the country, with 190 more staffers than the Trump administration and 80 more than under Obama, according to Forbes.
“Projected four-year costs of Biden’s White House payroll could top $200 million,” said Forbes, “For comparison, inflation adjusted, the Trump administration spent $164.3 million (2017-2020) and the Obama administration spent $188.5 million (2009-2012).”
But more likely the pending exodus is a reflection on the poor job that White House has done under Biden.
According to recent Gallup surveys only 43% of Americans approve the way Biden has been doing his job, with significant disapproval by Democrats.
“Though Biden’s overall approval number is steady,” said Gallup, “his ratings by political subgroup have shown some movement, most notably among Democrats. Their 78% approval is significantly lower than in prior Gallup surveys, when it registered 90% or higher.”
Anonymous White House staffers have complained to Politico that the White House under Biden is far from the caring and empathetic, family-oriented place that Biden likes to portray.
“It’s also hypocritical and ironic that a President whose brand is built on empathy and family has staff policies that fly in the face of that brand,” a White House Official told Politico. “It’s not a good look and it’s emblematic of how this place runs.”
And emblematic, as well, of how the White House has run the country.
