Racial & Ethnic Representation Among Top Staff in the U.S. House of Representatives

By LaShonda Brenson, Ph.D., and Kimberly Victor

This report, Racial & Ethnic Representation Among Top Staff in the U.S. House of Representatives, examines racial and ethnic representation among top staff (i.e., chiefs of staff, legislative directors, and communications directors) in Washington, DC, personal offices of the U.S. House of Representatives and staff directors on full U.S. House committees as of March 31, 2025.

House personal office top staff occupy important roles that wield significant influence. Members of Congress, especially those who represent diverse districts, should hire a diverse top staff that is representative of all its citizens. This report provides evidence regarding the lack of racial and ethnic representation among top staff in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Key findings show:

• People of color account for 42.9 percent of the U.S. population but only 21.6 percent of all top House staff. Black, Latina/o, Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI), and Native American top staff are underrepresented compared to their respective demographic representation. For instance, African Americans account for 11.8 percent of the U.S. population but only 6.0 percent of all top House staff.
• Between 2018 and 2025, the percentage of African American personal office top staff decreased (from 6.7 percent to 6.0 percent) while the percentage of people of color in House personal office top staff positions increased from 13.7 percent to 21.6 percent. We observed increases in diversity in all top positions in House personal offices, but the most significant increase was among the legislative directors, which increased by almost 11 percentage points.
• Of the 303 personal offices of white members, only 25 (8.3 percent) are led by chiefs of staff of color. Sixteen work for Democratic members, and nine for Republican members.
• In the personal offices of white Democratic members, 18.7 percent of top staff are people of color, even though these offices represent districts that are, on average, 43.1 percent people of color.
• In the personal offices of white Republican members, 6.6 percent of top staff are people of color, while these offices represent districts that are, on average, 29.3 percent people of color.
• Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) members are responsible for 60 percent (three of the five) of Black staff directors hired to full committees in the U.S. House. CBC members also employed the highest proportion of people of color (59.7 percent) and Black top staff (33.1 percent) compared to members of other major caucuses.
• The CBC and the Congressional Progressive Caucus are the only caucuses to employ a Black top staff that is equal or higher than the Black population (11.8 percent), 33.1 percent and 12.5 percent Black top staff, respectively.
• Only 13.0 percent of House personal offices (56) employed at least one Black staffer in a top position. And only 20 (or 5.3 percent) of the 377 personal offices of non-Black members employed at least one Black staffer in a top position.

Read the report here.