Educational polarization: evidence from the White House staff

Abstract

American political polarization has mapped onto educational pedigree, with credentialed elites increasingly supporting Democrats. We examine the implications of this trend in the most powerful office in American politics: the White House. From 1995 to 2024, we show Democratic presidents employed staffs with higher educational attainment, and that Republicans were more likely to attend public institutions, those without R1 status, and those ranked below the top 50%. We then show that universities whose alumni disproportionately went on to work for Democratic presidents were more likely to face investigations, enforcement actions, and funding cuts after President Trump took office in 2025. Our findings suggest educational pedigree among staff who operate key political institutions warrant further investigation.