Executive Office of the President of the United States

The Executive Office of the President of the United States (EOP) is a group of offices and agencies that help the president do their job. It is at the center of the executive branch of the United States federal government. This group includes many important parts, such as the White House Office, which has staff who work very closely with the president, including those in the West Wing. It also includes the National Security Council, Homeland Security Council, Office of Management and Budget, and the Council of Economic Advisers.

Many of the people who work in the EOP are civil servants. They are meant to be neutral and not take sides in politics. This helps them give fair and honest advice. Because the world has changed a lot with technology and global issues, the number of people working in the EOP has grown. As of 2015, there were about 1,800 positions, and most of these did not need approval from the U.S. Senate.

The EOP is sometimes called a "permanent government" because many of its programs and workers stay the same, even when a new president takes office. The EOP is overseen by the White House chief of staff. Since January 20, 2025, this important job has been held by Susie Wiles. She was chosen by President Donald Trump and is the first woman to hold this position.

History

In 1937, a group of experts called the Brownlow Committee suggested big changes to help the president manage the government better. Because of these ideas, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to pass a law in 1939 called the Reorganization Act. This law created the Executive Office of the President, which reports directly to the president.

At first, this office had just two parts: the White House Office and the Bureau of the Budget, which later became the Office of Management and Budget. Even though it started small, it grew over time. By the time President Eisenhower took office after World War II, the staff was expanded and reorganized to fit his leadership style. Today, the staff includes thousands of people with a big budget, helping the president with many important tasks.

Organization

The president can change the Executive Office because of a law from 1949. The main leader of the Executive Office is called the chief of staff. This person decides what the president should handle directly and what other staff can manage.

Important staff in the Executive Office have titles like "Assistant to the President" or "Deputy Assistant to the President." Many of these staff members do not need approval from the U.S. Senate, but a few important positions do.

White House offices

The White House Office is part of the Executive Office of the President. It includes many different teams, such as:

• Office of the Chief of Staff
• Office of the National Security Advisor
• Domestic Policy Council
• National Economic Council
• Office of Cabinet Affairs
• Office of Digital Strategy
• White House Office of Communications
• Office of the First Lady
• Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
• Office of Legislative Affairs
• Office of Management and Administration
• Office of Political Affairs
• Office of Public Engagement
• Office of Presidential Personnel
• Office of Scheduling and Advance
• Office of the Staff Secretary
• Office of White House Counsel
• Oval Office Operations
• White House Fellows
• White House Military Office
• Department of Government Efficiency

Congress

Congress and the president share some control over the Executive Office of the President. Congress has the power to decide how much money the Executive Office and other parts of the government receive, which is called the "power of the purse". Congress can also hold meetings to ask questions about how the Executive Office works.

The Executive Office sometimes helps write laws by adding details that experts understand, since laws from Congress can start out very general.

Budget history

This table shows the budget of the Executive Office for the years 2008–2017, and the actual spending for the years 1962–2023.