90 White House staff will spent 5 frantic hours deep-cleaning after Donald Trump moves out
A highly-organized team of 90 workers will spend five hours deep cleaning the White House between Donald Trump’s departure and Joe Biden’s arrival. Workers are sleeping on cots and in stairwells of the Washington DC address to try and maximize the amount of time they have to prepare for the new president’s arrival on Wednesday.
Biden will not be allowed to begin moving his stuff in until after he has been officially inaugurated, with that swearing-in set to happen around midday EST on Wednesday.
The New York Times reported that this year’s clean-up has been enhanced because of the Covid outbreak, although Biden has already had both doses of his Pfizer vaccine. Staff will quickly box-up anything left behind by the Trumps, before the Bidens’ belongings begin arriving on removal trucks.
President Trump’s refusal to concede the election result means the new first couple have been unable to properly plan their move, although they are familiar with the building from Biden’s time as vice president between 2009 and 2017.
Former White House social secretary Capricia Marshall, who served under the Clinton administration, hit out at Melania Trump for not inviting her successor Jill Biden over before leaving.
Marshall said: ‘Mrs Trump should have invited Dr. Biden in for the traditional coffee.
‘Typically, she would come prepared with questions, she’ll meet and talk to the chef, the full time residence staff and have an opportunity for them to break the ice. It’s a courtesy, but logistically it’s incredibly helpful.
‘That didn’t happen.’ Biden’s transition team has worked with White House usher Timothy Harleth to plan some logistical aspects of the move.
But staff say no matter how much planning is done, the rush to prepare between one first family leaving and another arriving is ‘always chaotic.’
They added that it is more stressful preparing for the departure of a one-term president such as Trump.
That is because presidents who are completing a second term know for sure that they are leaving, and can plan their departure well in advance.
Staff are also said to be grateful at Trump’s decision to leave early on Wednesday for his home in Florida, giving them extra time to prepare for the Bidens.
Some of Biden’s advisers have even advised the incoming president to spend the first night of his term at Blair House, a guest house that traditionally hosts incoming presidents in the run-up to their inauguration.
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