I wanted to add to Roy Exum's "reveal" article helping us all understand just what the cost of running the government is. I went just a bit further this morning asking this question, what is the president's staff and about what does it cost the taxpayers each year?
Now assume you are very satisfied with Trump no matter what the cost, then this article will only bolster that support. If though you are like me, you may resent the cost and the effectiveness of our government run by Trump.
As follows, at 175-180 staff serving the president. Salaries, on the low end, $115,000 to the high end, $180,000. I do not think this is all as the President has hired an additional 12-14 new attorneys to help with his defense of his administration and himself.
The amount close to the taxpayer is $12 million. Do you feel you are getting your moneys worth?
Robert Brooks
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Mr. Brooks, your dislike for President Trump is obvious from your posts. However, let’s look at what a couple of sources say about Trump’s staff expenditures and compare to two Democrats’ spending.
Adam Andrajewski, writing in Forbe’s on June 29, 2018 states: Trump’s Lean White House Payroll Is On-Track To Save Taxpayers $22 Million. He goes on to report in FY2015 President Obama had 477 staffers and a payroll of $40.7 million.
You indicated Mr. Trump has 175-180 paid staff costing taxpayers $12 million. And you alluded to the idea he’s spending more for lawyers he doesn’t report.
All in all, Mr. Brooks, the $12 million you begrudge Mr Trump is drastically lower than than almost $41 million Obama freely spent. And that doesn’t include the 24 staff members that served First Lady Michelle Obama. Melania Trump has just four taxpayer paid staffers.
Judicial Watch, after a FOI lawsuit, reported today that Nancy Pelosi took a trip in 2015 costing taxpayers over $180,000. Accompanied by her husband and several members of Congress and their spouses, the group went to Milan, Naples, Rome, the Vatican and Kiev, Ukraine on an Air Force Jet. Actually Judicial Watch has uncovered the fact that Speaker Pelosi has cost taxpayers over $2.1 million in foreign travel in a two year period alone. So when Trump recently cancelled another one of her foreign excursions, at taxpayer expense, he was saving you and all of us more money, Mr. Brooks.
Ralph Miller