Half of Senior Staffers In Congress Are Thinking Of Quitting Their Jobs
Jose Nino
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Just roughly one in five senior aides on Capitol Hill believe that Congress is “functioning as a democratic legislature should.” A similar number believe that it is “an effective forum for debate” on key matters. .
Unsurprisingly, half of senior congressional aides are considering leaving the Hill because of “heated rhetoric from the other party” per findings uncovered by the Congressional Management Foundation. The CMF is a non-profit organization that has the goal of optimizing elected officials’ effectiveness and constituent engagement. The foundation carries out seminars for staff and provides research to outside organizations attempting to navigate the complicated nature of the political process in the House and Senate.
In the last seven years, the foundation carried out three profound investigations into the daily lives of senior staffers in Congress.
The introduction of the most recent “State of the Congress” report begins with a relatively bleak statement:
“Congress is broken.”
From 2019 through 2023, the average Washington, DC staffer was making up to $74,000 annually, per an analysis by Legistorm.
On average, chiefs of staff in the US Senate are making $194,000 annually and many above $200,000. The average House chief of staff currently makes $178,000.
Staff departures have become an alarming trend in Washington, DC. This is largely due to Wuhan virus issues spanning from partisan battles concerning mask mandates to the extended closure of public buildings.
The January 6, 2021 storming of the Capitol has also poisoned the political climate in DC, which in turn, has made the work environment for staffers even more toxic.
Senior Democratic staff members have indicated that they were considering leaving their gigs due to how the GOP’s “heated rhetoric” made them feel uncomfortable. Similarly, nearly 60% of senior Republican staffers stated they were pondering leaving their jobs due to the actions of “my party.”
40% of senior aides highlighted that “direct insulting or threatening messages” take place frequently or very frequently while doing work.
“The physical and psychological toll of this place cannot be understated. We are in danger as a nation,” a Democratic aide to a House committee said to the foundation’s staff.
Overall, the political climate in DC is toxic. So staffers shouldn’t be blamed for leaving. In fact, they’re better off in the private sector being productive members of society.
Politics is ultimately for the most parasitic members of society.
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