Racial Diversity Among Top Capitol Hill Staff Remains Disproportionate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 12, 2025

Contact: 
Kennedy Fortner, kennedy.fortner@jointcenter.org

WASHINGTON — The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, America’s Black think tank, published a final update on the racial diversity of top staff hires in the 119th Congress. Research finds that despite the 119th Congress being the most diverse in history, top staff of color still lags behind the U.S. population of people of color.

There are 1,599 top positions (chiefs of staff, legislative directors, and communications directors) in the personal offices of new and returning members of the 119th Congress. As of Feb. 28, U.S. senators filled 285 top staff positions and U.S. House members filled 1,224, leaving 90 positions to fill.

While the members of the 119th Congress are slightly more diverse than the previous Congress, the racial makeup of its top staff does not reflect the diversity of the United States. According to the Joint Center’s midterm hiring campaign microsite, which went live in Nov. 2024 and features several interactive tracking tools, including monitoring top staff hires of all new and returning members, 94.4 percent of the positions have already been filled (1,509 of 1,599) as of Feb. 28, 2025.

Of the top staff hired by new and returning members so far, 20.0 percent are people of color, and 5.4 percent are African American. With people of color accounting for 41.1 percent of the U.S. population (African Americans are 13.6 percent of the U.S. population), these low percentages are concerning.

“This Congress is the most diverse to date with 26 percent members of color, yet top staff of color still falls short compared to the diversity of America,” said Joint Center Senior Researcher Dr. LaShonda Brenson, who leads the Joint Center’s Hill Diversity work. “Since we began studying this issue ten years ago, Congress has yet to hire a top staff of color that reflects the people of color in the United States. Top staff hold significant power on Capitol Hill and play a crucial role in ensuring the interests of all Americans are adequately considered. We urge members of Congress to prioritize diversity as they staff their offices.”

Joint Center Research Associate Kimberly Victor said, “It’s promising to see congressional members of color hire diverse top staff, however, the responsibility of hiring top staff of color shouldn’t solely fall on them. If the pattern continues of not hiring diverse top staff in the remaining 90 positions, racial diversity among top staff of newly-elected and returning members will fall even further. It’s imperative for all members of Congress to hire top staff of color to reflect the diversity of their constituents. ”

Read our full analysis, which includes additional data disaggregated by overall diversity vs. the U.S. population by newly elected and returning members of Congress and political parties, here.

*Our analysis reflects the 533 voting members of Congress as of Feb. 28, 2025, not including Florida 1st and 6th House Districts. Independent members of Congress are counted with the party they caucus with.

Background  

In November, the Joint Center launched its midterm hiring campaign, which includes a microsite featuring interactive tracking tools, reports, an explainer video, coalition letters, and a list of ways concerned citizens and members of Congress can get involved. The microsite allows users to learn how each new and returning member of Congress is faring when it comes to hiring diverse top staff (chiefs of staff, legislative directors, and communications directors) in their Washington, DC office. The Joint Center regularly updates tracker data.

The Joint Center also sent letters signed by almost 70 national organizations and diversity stakeholders to new and returning members of Congress to advocate for increasing diversity among top and mid-level congressional staffers.

To view detailed data on top staff of color hired by newly-elected and returning members, click here.

To understand the problem of a lack of Hill staff diversity, why it matters, and solutions, click here.

Please check the press release section of our website for future updates.

About the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, America’s Black think tank, provides compelling and actionable policy solutions to eradicate persistent and evolving barriers to the full freedom of Black people in America. We are the trusted forum for leading experts and scholars to participate in major public policy debates and promote ideas that advance Black communities. We use evidence-based research, analysis, convenings, and strategic communications to support Black communities and a network of allies.