New salary data from the White House has revealed an unexpected list of top earners in Donald Trump’s administration. Some of the highest-paid officials are not the familiar political names most people assume. Instead, several lesser-known government “detailees” now sit above senior White House figures on the pay scale.
White House salary report reveals an unexpected top tier
The 2026 Annual Report to Congress on White House Personnel shows that two relatively low-profile officials are earning the highest salaries inside the White House. Scott Brady, who leads the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, and Harry Jung, deputy director of the White House Crypto Council, both earn $197,200 a year. That puts them at the very top of the administration’s pay structure (via The Daily Beast).
Both officials are “detailees,” meaning they are temporarily assigned from other government departments. Despite their lower public visibility, they earn about $2,000 more than some of the president’s most recognized aides.
Several well-known Trump staffers, including White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, communications director Steven Cheung, border adviser Tom Homan, and Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino Jr. earn $195,200 annually. Their salaries have reportedly remained unchanged over the past year.
The report highlights a flat pay structure for many senior aides, even as Trump’s personal financial profile continues to draw attention. According to figures cited in the report, Trump’s reported income reached $2.2 billion last year, which in 2024 was just $600 million.
Asked about the jump in his earnings, Trump brushed aside the criticism. He told reporters the gains weren’t unusual because “the stock market’s going up, everybody’s profiting.” He also said he doesn’t personally manage his finances, explaining, “I don’t get involved in my personal [finances], we have funds that run my money.”
The White House defended the administration’s financial practices. Deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said the president and his family have never been involved in, and would never participate in “conflicts of interest.” She also pushed back against media reports, arguing that the coverage is part of a recurring political narrative rather than based on factual concerns.
Originally reported by Rishabh Shandilya on Mandatory.
