Executive Office of the President of the United States facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Executive Office of the President of the United States

Seal of the Executive Office
Flag of the Executive Office
Agency overview
Formed	July 1, 1939; 86 years ago (1939-07-01)
Jurisdiction	U.S. Federal Government
Headquarters	White House, Washington, D.C., U.S.
Employees	1,800 (approximately)
Annual budget	$714 million
Agency executive	Susie Wiles, White House Chief of Staff

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. Think of it as the President's main support team. These groups are part of the executive branch of the U.S. government.

The EOP includes many important parts. Some of these are the White House Office (which has staff working very closely with the President), the National Security Council, and the Office of Management and Budget. Most of the EOP staff work in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building near the White House.

Many people who work in the EOP are career civil servants. This means they are not chosen for political reasons. They are expected to give fair and helpful advice to the President.

Over time, the number of staff in the EOP has grown a lot. This is because the government's work has become more complex. As of 2015, there were about 1,800 people working there. Most of these jobs do not need approval from the U.S. Senate.

The EOP is led by the White House Chief of Staff. This person helps decide what issues the President needs to focus on. Since January 20, 2025, Susie Wiles has held this important role.

How the EOP Started and Grew

The Eisenhower Executive Office Building at night

The idea for the EOP came about in 1937. A group of experts called the Brownlow Committee suggested big changes to how the government worked. They thought the President needed more help to manage the country.

Based on their ideas, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to create the EOP in 1939. This new office would report directly to the President.

When it first started, the EOP had two main parts. One was the White House Office, which is still a key part today. The other was the Bureau of the Budget, which helps manage the government's money. It's now called the Office of Management and Budget.

In the 1800s, Presidents had very little help. Thomas Jefferson only had one messenger and one secretary! Congress started giving money for staff in 1857. By 1900, the White House staff had grown to about 13 people.

President Warren G. Harding had 31 staff members. Most of these were for office tasks. During President Herbert Hoover's time, more secretaries were added. One of them became the first press secretary.

President Roosevelt greatly expanded the government's role during the Great Depression. He relied on a group of smart advisors, sometimes called his "brain trust." They helped him create new programs.

After World War II, the EOP grew even more. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was a general during the war, reorganized the office. He made it work more like a military command.

Today, the EOP is much larger. It has thousands of people working in many different roles. This big team helps the President make important decisions and manage the country.

How the EOP is Organized

The President has the power to organize the EOP. This power was given by a law passed in 1949.

The White House Chief of Staff is in charge of the EOP. This person helps decide what issues the President needs to deal with directly. They also help manage all the different staff members.

Staff members in the EOP have different titles. The most senior staff are called Assistant to the President. The next level is Deputy Assistant to the President. The third level is Special Assistant to the President.

Most people who work in the EOP do not need to be approved by the U.S. Senate. However, a few top positions do need Senate approval. For example, the head of the Office of Management and Budget needs to be confirmed.

Here are some of the main parts of the EOP and who leads them as of January 20, 2025:

White House Offices

The White House Office is a big part of the EOP. It includes many smaller offices that help the President every day. Here are some of them:

Congress and the EOP

The Congress also has a say in how the EOP works. Congress controls the government's money. This means they can affect the budget of the EOP and other government groups.

Congress can also investigate the EOP. They might hold hearings where EOP staff members answer questions. This helps make sure everything is working correctly.

The EOP often helps Congress write new laws. Experts in the EOP can add important details to laws that Congress starts.

Budget of the EOP

The EOP needs money to operate, just like any other organization. This money comes from the government's budget. Here's a look at the EOP's budget over some years:

The budget numbers for earlier years (1993-2007) show larger amounts. This is because those numbers include money that was actually spent, not just the planned budget.

See also

In Spanish: Oficina Ejecutiva del Presidente de los Estados Unidos para niños

• Title 3 of the Code of Federal Regulations
• Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations
• White House Records Office