For most of American history, Presidents had only a handful of personal aides. In 1937 the Brownlow Committee reported that the President needs help, and in 1939 Franklin Roosevelt used a reorganization plan to create the Executive Office of the President, moving the Bureau of the Budget into it and establishing a small White House staff. The EOP has grown to include more than a dozen offices with thousands of employees.
This guide tours the EOP, explaining who the President's top aides are, how the policy councils work, what the budget office does, and the specialized offices that round out the presidency.
Some EOP offices have specific missions. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative negotiates trade agreements, and its head holds Cabinet rank. The Office of National Drug Control Policy coordinates drug policy. The Office of the Vice President supports the Vice President's staff and duties, and the Office of the First Lady manages her public role.
The EOP includes components created by statute, such as OMB, the National Security Council, and the Council of Economic Advisers, and others the President creates by order. Most EOP staff work in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House, while the most senior aides work in the West Wing. The Office of Administration provides personnel, technology, and other support across the EOP.
The National Security Council, created in 1947 and run by the National Security Advisor, coordinates defense, diplomacy, and intelligence. The National Economic Council and the Domestic Policy Council play similar roles for economic and domestic issues. The Council of Economic Advisers provides economic analysis, the Council on Environmental Quality oversees environmental reviews, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy advises on research and technology. Each administration decides how large and influential these councils will be.
The Office of Management and Budget, successor to the Bureau of the Budget, prepares the President's budget, approves agency spending plans and shutdown plans, reviews proposed testimony and legislation, and, through its Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, reviews major regulations. Its director is confirmed by the Senate and has become one of the most consequential officials in the executive branch, especially in fights over impoundment and the size of the workforce.
The Chief of Staff manages the White House, controls the President's schedule and access, and is often the most powerful unelected official in government. The White House Counsel advises on legal questions and vets nominees, the Press Secretary speaks for the administration, and offices for legislative affairs, presidential personnel, and public engagement handle Congress, appointments, and outside groups. These aides serve at the President's pleasure and need no Senate confirmation.
The White House Military Office provides transportation, communications, and food service, including Air Force One, Marine One, and Camp David. The Secret Service protects the President and the complex. All records created by the President and staff belong to the public under the Presidential Records Act of 1978 and go to the National Archives when the administration ends.
See what these offices help the President do in presidential powers explained, meet the staff in more detail in White House staff: who's who, or explore national security decisions in the National Security Council explained.