Biden gets called out for 'disappointing' Trump-like habit of hiring senior aides' children
Children of President Biden's aides have been getting hired for administration positions, and ethics experts aren't thrilled.
At least five children of Biden's top aides have been tapped for jobs in the administration, sparking "concerns from ethics experts, diversity advocates and others," The Washington Post reported. Most recently, the Treasury Department hired the son of Biden counselor Steve Ricchetti.
"While it may not be as bad as appointing your son or daughter to a top government post as Trump did with Jared and Ivanka, it is still bad," Walter Shaub, former Office of Government Ethics director, told the Post. "'Not as bad as Trump' cannot be the new standard."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The White House counselor's two sons and daughter, a deputy White House chief of staff's daughter, and the director of presidential personnel's daughter have also been hired for administration jobs, according to the report. Additionally, White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain's wife and White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki's sister have scored jobs or nominations. Biden has pledged members of his family won't be involved in government, but the Post writes that ethics experts find it "disappointing" he didn't go further in breaking from President Donald Trump's hiring practices.
Deputy White House press secretary Andrew Bates told the Post that "the president has instituted the highest ethical standards of anyone to ever hold this office" and that his administration is staffed with "well-qualified public servants." The Post also writes there's "no evidence that any of Biden's aides have played a role in securing the jobs for their children or other relatives."
Still, Shaub questioned how "these children of political appointees" can "be the only people who are qualified," and he also wrote on Twitter that he's "disgusted" because "a lot of us worked hard to tee [Biden] up to restore ethics to government and believed the promises," and "this is a a real 'f--- you' to us — and government ethics."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Today's political cartoons - May 10, 2024
Cartoons Friday's cartoons - worm food, crossing the line, and more
By The Week US Published
-
'No war is good'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
The Week Unwrapped: will the US end child marriage?
Podcast Why some states have no lower limit on marriage age, plus Black maternal health and the price of olive oil
By The Week Staff Published
-
Will young people refuse to vote in the 2024 presidential election?
Today's Big Question The kids are not alright
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
'Is the death penalty racist? Of course it is.'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Did a federal snafu break college admissions?
Today's Big Question FAFSA's botched rollout creates chaos for college-bound seniors
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
'New arrivals are more than paying for themselves'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
'Climate studies are increasingly becoming politicized'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
'A financial windfall for Iranian terrorism'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Biden tackles campus protests, deplores 'chaos'
Speed Read Students have a "right to protest but not a right to cause chaos," the president said
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Box Trump in for real if he pulls another stunt. Put him behind bars.'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published