How Does The White House Staff Differ From The Executive Office Of The President?

What is the difference between the White House staff and Executive Office? If you’re seeking an answer to this question, you have come to the right place!

The president is the number one citizen of the country. This means the buck stops at his desk. However, he cannot do the job alone. He needs people capable and willing to give everything to make his tenure successful. 

There are apparent differences between the White House staff and the Executive Office, which we’ll dwell on shortly. Continue reading for more information on the topic. 

How Does The White House Staff Differ From The Executive Office Of The President?

Almost the entire White House staff are political appointees. Thus, they do not require Senate confirmation to assume their respective positions. 

The president has the sole discretion to appoint White House staff. And the White House office, headed by the White House Chief of Staff, is an entity within the Executive Office of the President. 

The White House staff also works for and reports directly to the President of the United States.  

Why Is It Known As The Executive Office Of The President?

The office of the United States President is the highest political position in the land. It’s a position many are dreaming of for diverse personal and political reasons. 

However, most people would admire the luxury but reject the workload attached to being the number one citizen. It’s no secret that the U.S. president has one of the toughest jobs in the world. 

The president is faced with a multitude of decisions every day. And he must make the right decisions, as the country’s working and non-working families feel the impact of any decision the number one citizen of the country makes. 

Therefore, the president requires support to govern the people of America effectively. That’s why the Executive Office of the President was created. 

The Executive Office of the President (EOP) was created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939. The EOP is responsible for effectively communicating the President’s message to all United States Citizens, including promoting the country’s trade interests abroad. 

The Executive Office Of The President 

The Executive Office of The President (EOP) renders timeless support to the president. However, the White House Chief of Staff oversees the EOP. 

The office of the EOP serves as home to many of the closest advisers to the President. And most of them are appointed at the President’s discretion. 

The White House is getting busier as the President’s responsibilities have expanded over the years. Additionally, the offices the EOPs oversee have increased in number and size since the position was created. 

Past presidents and Congress have created several EOP offices. But the most visible is the Communications and Press Secretary Office. 

The job of the Press Secretary is to brief the media on the agenda and activities of the United States President. The National Security Council advises the President on national security, intelligence, and foreign policy. However, this position is less visible. 

The United States President is well taken care of. Various offices in the White House are responsible for providing logistical and other numerous support to the U.S. President, including ensuring proper maintenance of the White House.

Another crucial office is the White House Military Office. Their responsibilities range from Air Force One to taking care of facilities used for dining. 

The Office of the Presidential Advance is another important office that caters to the president’s needs. It’s less popular but renders crucial support to the president. They prepare sites outside the White House to ensure the president arrives safely. 

So the White House comprises numerous offices of the EOP, each created to cater to the specific needs of the president. There’s also the White House’s West Wing, where multiple senior EOP offices are. They work close to the president. 

Many EOPs live near the White House in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. The building is part of the White House compound too.  

Roles The White House Staff Plays

The White House staff performs numerous roles in the house. These range from care and feeding to packaging and selling. Check them out below. 

Care & Feeding Offices

• Correspondence
• Scheduling
• Advance
• Staff Secretary
• Personnel
• Cabinet Liaison
• Military Aides
• Executive Clerk
• Records
• White House Counsel
• Management & Administration
• Speechwriting & Research

Policy Office

• Economic Policy
• National Security
• Domestic Policy

Packaging And Selling Office

• Public Engagement
• Legislative Affairs
• Political Affairs
• Communications
• Intergovernmental Affairs
• Office of the Press Secretary

How Are White House Staff Coordinated?

The White House staff comprises over 5,900 employees who work tirelessly to make the president’s job a breeze. They protect the president and make serving the 331.9 million Americans a possibility for the president. 

The White House’s activities and staff strength have grown bigger over the years. The president’s responsibilities have also increased. However, the White House Chief of Staff needs proper coordination, which is where the White House Chief of Staff comes in. 

The White House Chief of Staff’s role involves coordinating the elements of the White House staff. He also coordinates between the entities of the Executive Office of the President and White House staff. 

However, since the 1990s, there have only been two White House Chief of Staff Deputies. And they have been overseeing the feeding and care offices, coordinating the policy formulation and packaging offices.  

Roles Of The White House Chief Of Staff

The White House Chief of Staff doesn’t only coordinate the White House Staff. He also performs other vital roles. Here are some of the functions of the Chief of Staff below.   

1: Strategy:

The White House Chief of Staff oversees the creation of the overall administration strategy. 

2: Operations:

Another area the White House Chief of Staff plays a crucial role is in the aspect of operations. They ensure the White House Staff are efficient in their duties. 

The Chief of Staff also ensures each staff understands their assignments and responsibilities. Furthermore, he facilitates vertical coordination among offices in the White House. The idea is to bring synergy between offices and ensure everyone works harmoniously to make the president and America attain greater heights. 

Through vertical coordination, the White House Chief of Staff:

• Ensure that there’s effective collaboration between the Care and Feeding Offices.
• Ensures members of the Policy Offices work harder to deliver comprehensive policies without duplicating another’s work. 
• Ensure the Packaging and Selling Office pays attention to the administration’s priorities. 

The White House Chief of Staff also facilitates horizontal coordination across divisions

3: Counselor:

The Chief of Staff can also act as a counselor to the president and White House staff. He or she functions as the president’s all-purpose political and policy advisor.   

4: Emissary:

The White House Chief of Staff serves a crucial function in the White House. He serves as the United States President’s alter ego. He also serves as the administration spokesman and Legislature Negotiator. 

Conclusion

How does the White House staff differ from the Executive Office of the President? Almost every member of the White House staff is appointed at the president’s discretion, but that’s not the case for the EOP. 

The Executive Office of the President and the White House work hand-in-hand to ensure the success of the president’s administration. The EOP has produced some of the closest political advisers to previous presidents.