These federal employees are making more money than the president

President Donald Trump speaks to press before boarding Air Force One at Miami International Airport in Miami, Florida on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, en route to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. (Official White House photo by Daniel Torok)

Topline: President Donald Trump made it a priority to downsize the federal workforce last year, but the top-paid employees are making more money than previously.

There were 1,540 federal workers who outearned the president’s salary of $400,000 last year, breaking the previous record of 956 workers.