Morale around the White House has hit a low point. Staffers are upset about missing a traditional parting gift: a photo with the president, according to Politico Playbook.
In the Biden White House, departing staffers have typically received a photo with the president as a token of appreciation. But the president has canceled these photos for months, leaving many worried they might miss their chance. Recent changes haven’t eased concerns, Politico reported.
The Office of Management and Administration’s employee engagement team sent an email notifying staff about upcoming photo sessions. These will happen over the next two months on a rolling basis. However, no additional guests will be allowed, Politico noted. This rule frustrated staffers, as family members traditionally joined for the special moment.
“Instead of everyone being annoyed by no departure photos, now it’s only half of the people who are annoyed,” one current official told Politico.
The frustration doesn’t end there. Senior staffers are reportedly upset that junior officials have already gotten photos with the president. This imbalance has deepened the sense of unfairness, Politico reported.
“It makes me annoyed that I’m even this annoyed, but it’s the principle of the matter and a coveted White House experience to get a departure photo,” a former official texted Politico. “Like why did I see an intern turned staff assistant get a photo before me?”
Some staffers are reportedly considering writing a petition to ensure senior officials get their photos. An administration official told Politico that former staff will soon receive invites for their photo sessions. The hope is to ease tensions with this gesture.
“These are the staffers who stood with Biden since Day 1, many since the lowest ebbs of the campaign,” a former official wrote in a message obtained by Politico. “The staffers who gave everything to this President, who missed anniversaries, birthdays, their own doctors appointments, knowing democracy itself was on the line, deserve at the very least a proper goodbye from the man who says he owes them everything.”
Despite the internal turmoil, Biden recently showed gratitude to his supporters. On Nov. 22, he hosted a dinner to thank allies who stood by him politically and personally. The First Lady toasted her husband, calling him her “hero.”
“And I just want to say, thank you, thank you, thank you,” the president said. He quoted an Irish poet, adding, “You’re making hope and history rhyme.”