The prospect of a new administration is causing significant unease among staffers in President Joe Biden’s White House, according to sources cited by West Wing Playbook. Even if Vice President Kamala Harris secures victory in November’s election, the likelihood of her purging and replacing many of Biden’s current team members has led to widespread apprehension among staff members, as they grapple with the uncertainty of their job security.
The potential for a mass exodus from the White House is not unheard of following an election cycle; however, what makes this particular scenario especially worrisome is the close-knit nature of the current administration’s staff, who have developed deep relationships over the years and are reluctant to let go. As they anxiously await news of their fate, many have already begun discussing alternative employment options should they find themselves out of work in January.
According to a current administration official, while it is expected that some senior officials will be forced out, there is hope for junior staff members at the agency level, who may be given the option to remain in their roles under new leadership. In fact, some have even speculated that if Harris were to win, she might implement a similar “voluntary resignation” process as seen during the Reagan-Bush hand off, which would allow affected staff members to gracefully bow out of their positions.
However, not everyone is taking the potential shakeup lightly; a former White House official remarked that the Biden administration did not anticipate this level of upheaval and acknowledged that many current staff members now find themselves on “the chopping block.” As they scramble to prepare for the possibility of losing their jobs, some have begun exploring opportunities outside of government service, such as on Capitol Hill or in the private sector.
Interestingly, this anxiety is not exclusive to White House staff; reports suggest that if former President Donald Trump were to make a comeback and defeat Harris in November, he would likely purge career bureaucrats from various federal agencies, including the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI. This move would be part of his broader plan to overhaul the so-called “administrative state,” which refers to the phenomenon of unaccountable and unelected administrative agencies wielding power to create and enforce their own rules.
During his time in office, Trump signed an executive order that aimed to reclassify federal government employees into Schedule F, a move that would have granted him greater power to hold these bureaucrats accountable for their job performance. As he looks ahead to the possibility of another term, it seems clear that Trump remains committed to dismantling what he perceives as an entrenched and unjust system within our government institutions.
In summary, the impending election is causing significant anxiety among White House staffers, who are bracing for potential job losses should Vice President Kamala Harris secure victory in November. As they navigate this uncertain landscape, many are exploring alternative employment options and preparing themselves for a possible mass exodus from the current administration. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump has made no secret of his desire to purge career bureaucrats from various federal agencies if he were to return to power, as part of his broader effort to dismantle the “administrative state.
The outcome of the November election will undoubtedly have a profound impact on both the White House and the broader government landscape, with many staff members facing an uncertain future as they grapple with the potential for significant changes in leadership and policy direction. As the election cycle unfolds, it remains to be seen which way the pendulum will swing and what the ramifications will be for the thousands of individuals whose careers hang in the balance.