In a disappointing revelation, despite President Joe Biden's policy focus on pay equity, women working in the White House continue to face a significant gender pay gap. According to an analysis by The 19th of the most recent data available, women in the White House earned 80 cents for every $1 earned by men in 2023, a gap wider than the national average.

This finding comes as the country observes Equal Pay Day, a day that sheds light on the pay gap between men and women and the ongoing efforts required to bridge it. In 2024, full-time working women earned 84 cents for every $1 earned by White men. However, when considering part-time workers, the gap widened further, with women earning only 78 cents for every $1 earned by men. This is primarily due to women being more likely to work low-paid, part-time jobs.

The issue of pay equity is expected to feature prominently in President Biden's campaign this election year, as a stark contrast to former President Donald Trump. The pay gap among White House employees during Trump's administration was even wider, with women earning only 76 cents for every $1 earned by men. The analysis revealed that the median wage for women in the Trump White House was $72,700, while it stood at $95,350 for men. In comparison, under President Biden, the median wage for women rose to $84,000, while it was $105,000 for men.

While President Trump claimed to promote women based on merit, his administration actively worked against national pay equity policies. In contrast, President Biden has been a vocal proponent of pay equity and has pushed for legislative measures, although he has not yet achieved success in passing such legislation.

The discrepancy in pay within these two White Houses highlights the challenges of addressing pay equity without targeted legislation, even when there is a commitment from the president. The analysis conducted by The 19th, which relied on self-reported data and available records, was unable to confirm if any staffers identified as nonbinary. Additionally, due to insufficient records, the analysis did not include an examination of racial disparities in pay within the White House.

On a national scale, the gender pay gap is calculated by comparing median wages for men and women across all types of jobs. The comparison is typically made with White men, who are both the highest-paid group and a significant portion of the labor force. While Asian men earn slightly more than White men, they constitute a smaller percentage of the workforce. It is crucial to note that this "raw" figure does not account for other factors such as education or experience, but it still highlights the unequal access women have to higher-paid positions, both within the White House and across the country.

One contributing factor to the gender pay gap in both White Houses is the concentration of women in lower-paid positions. In the Biden White House, for example, the lowest-paid workers, earning less than $55,000, included 43 women and 24 men. Similarly, in the Trump White House, 49 women and 30 men fell into this category.

This persistent issue extends beyond the White House to the broader labor force and serves as a key factor behind the stubbornly wide pay gap in the United States. Jocelyn Frye, President of the National Partnership for Women & Families, emphasized that addressing this issue requires more than a singular solution. Women often find themselves segregated into lower-paid jobs, making it harder for them to access higher-paid or leadership positions.

During his presidency, President Biden has advocated for improved wages for care workers, increased the minimum wage, and supported federal paid leave policies. He has also pushed for the passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act, which aims to close loopholes in pay discrimination laws. However, these initiatives have yet to be enacted at a national level, despite consistent reintroductions of the Paycheck Fairness Act since 1997.

Nevertheless, President Biden has made headway in improving equity in the federal workforce. He raised the minimum wage to $15 per hour for 370,000 federal employees and contractors in 2022. Additionally, he issued a rule prohibiting federal agencies from considering workers' previous or current pay when determining salaries. This rule tackles the inequities caused by carrying wage disparities from one job to another, particularly affecting women.

The White House, while acknowledging the pay gap, highlighted President Biden's efforts in advancing fair compensation based on skills, experience, and expertise. However, it did not address broader questions regarding steps being taken to improve pay parity within its own staff.

As the nation marks another Equal Pay Day, the persisting gender pay gap in the White House serves as a reminder of the complex and multifaceted nature of achieving pay equity. It underscores the need for targeted legislation and comprehensive efforts to address systemic barriers and ensure equal access to well-paid positions for women across all sectors.