House of Representatives Staff Levels in Member, Committee, Leadership, and Other Offices, 1977-2014

Summary

Between 1977 and 2014, the number of House staff grew from 8,831 to 9,175, or 3.90%.Since 2008, however, the number of staff working for the House of Representatives has decreased 8.28%. These changes were characterized in part by increases in the number of staff working in chamber leadership offices, and larger increases in the staffing of chamber officers and officials. House staff working for Members have shifted from committee settings to the personal offices of Members. Some of these changes may be indicative of the growth of the House as an institution.

This report is one of several CRS products focusing on congressional staff. Others include CRS Report RL34545, Congressional Staff: Duties and Functions of Selected Positions; CRS Report R43946, Senate Staff Levels in Member, Committee, Leadership, and Other Offices, 1977-2014; CRS Report R43774, Staff Pay Levels for Selected Positions in Senators’ Offices, FY2009-FY2013; CRS Report R43775, Staff Pay Levels for Selected Positions in House Member Offices, 2009-2013.