Biden administration narrows gender pay gap in White House

Advancing gender equity and addressing the gender pay gap have been priorities for President Joe Biden since he was elected, and the White House is attempting to lead by example. Earlier this month, the White House announced the average salaries of men and women hired by Biden in the White House are "roughly equal," with men earning an average salary of $94,639 and women making $93,752 on average ― a difference of only one percent. In addition, 60 percent of new White House appointees under President Biden are female, and women now make up more than half the White House's senior staff.

These figures represent a stark improvement over past administrations, in which the average salaries of female staffers were significantly lower in comparison to their male counterparts. To aid in these efforts to achieve pay equity among White House staff, the Biden administration established a salary structure that includes pay bands to ensure "those completing similar work are paid the same" regardless of their gender or race. The White House has also taken additional steps, including hiring a chief diversity and inclusion director and implementing training for hiring managers regarding inclusive practices and equitable hiring.

Bill demands equal pay for U.S. Women's Soccer Team

In June, Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced legislation that would block federal funding for the 2026 World Cup, set to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, unless the U.S. Soccer Federation agrees to provide equal pay to the men's and women's national teams.