Kamala Harris Faces High Staff Turnover
- Kamala Harris faces significant challenges with high staff turnover within her vice presidential office.
- To mitigate the chaos, Harris has claimed that her office does not fall under the Freedom of Information Act.
- This move raises concerns about transparency and accountability in her administration.
Under Vice President Kamala Harris, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) has faced significant staff turnover, with reports describing it as a “revolving door.” As of March 31, 2024, only four of the original 47 staff members from Harris's first year remain in their positions. The semi-annual Report of the Secretary of the Senate highlights that 24 individuals have departed from their roles within the last year alone, raising concerns about the stability and effectiveness of the office. The OVP has been criticized for its lack of transparency regarding payroll and staffing information. A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed in September 2021 for staff payroll data was met with the assertion that the OVP is not subject to such requests. This has led to questions about the office's budget and staffing discrepancies, particularly as the reported salaries for 28 staff members totaled over $2.3 million in 2021. Harris's office stands out as the only elected official's office in the U.S. not required to disclose spending details to the public. Since the Biden administration began, the overall turnover rate among White House staff has been notable, with 127 of the initial 560 employees remaining, translating to a 77-percent turnover. However, Harris's office has experienced an even more staggering 92-percent turnover rate, raising concerns about the implications for her potential future as a presidential candidate.