- The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for staff residing in the White House.
- An employee said employees received conflicting information about how to return to work safely in the past year.
- The White House’s approach to COVID-19 changed dramatically after Biden succeeded Trump.
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While former President Donald Trump and many of his aides battled COVID-19 last year, the White House residence team never stopped working behind the scenes, according to The New Yorker.
For years, the residence team lamented the rarity of events held at the White House under Trump, which included only two state dinners, compared to the six that were offered by former President Barack Obama in his first term.
Among the “lifelong” employees who served several presidents of the United States, a sense of “malaise” spread through the White House, according to the report.
As the COVID-19 pandemic progressed last year, the desolation of the building has only intensified. A team member who was renamed Jason to protect his identity discussed the evolution of the situation under Trump.
“People stayed at home,” he said. “Everything from food service to national security – if it could be done at home, it was done at home.”
But former White House chief Timothy Harleth said the residence team adhered to the necessary COVID-19 health guidelines more than other White House Trump officials.
“It was we who were using PPE [personal protective equipment], pressing for our people to be tested, “he said, but noted that” most of our people cannot easily telework “.
According to Harleth, about seven or eight resident employees hired COVID-19.
As soon as the employees recovered, they were asked to work on behalf of the other employees, due to the presumption of immunity against the highly infectious disease.
Jason said the “survivors” did not receive consistent messages about when they were expected at the White House or whether they needed to stay in their homes.
“There was a lot of confusion, no top direction, a total lack of empathy, sympathy,” he expressed. “The Christmas parties with unmasked hordes were attended to, but [the staff] it would have to be there for this and that. There was no constant message on how to keep him safe. “
When President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden arrived at the White House on January 20, the building’s tone had changed.
Due to social distance measures, officials spread across the State Floor when the Bidens arrived at the White House after the inauguration ceremony.
Another resident official commented on the difference between the way Biden approached the pandemic and that of Trump, where employees were all gathered in a room to say goodbye before the ex-president left.
“It’s like night and day,” said the official.