The White House senior staff has reportedly organized wellness meetings for aides who may be grappling with the defensive measures taken by Israel against the Hamas terror group.
These meetings, referred to as "listening sessions," involved in-depth discussions about the ongoing conflict and its impact on White House aides, according to eight officials who spoke to Politico.
National security adviser Jake Sullivan conducted a virtual wellness check staff meeting on October 13, which was attended by approximately 100 staffers. Politico described the meeting as a review of the Biden administration's stance on the war, while acknowledging that not everyone agrees with it and that individuals have their own strong, personal feelings about the fighting.
The wellness meetings aimed to address a pervasive "culture of fear" and foster a supportive environment, according to one official. Some sessions were divided among Muslim, Arab, Palestinian, and Jewish aides.
The intention was to ensure that the team, many of whom have personal connections to the region, understood that these are challenging times for everyone and that they should check in on one another, a White House official explained.
Chief of Staff Jeff Zients also organized a call with President Joe Biden's cabinet secretaries to ensure they were reaching out to their Muslim, Arab American, Palestinian, and Jewish staff members, another official revealed.
These meetings come at a time when many Democrats are expressing dissatisfaction with President Biden's approach to supporting Israel. Just last week, Josh Paul, the director at the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, resigned over the conflict.
To address the concerns and maintain a sense of calm, the Department of State and the Department of Defense have reportedly taken measures. Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged the conflict in a letter to aides and held meetings with Arab, Muslim, and Jewish employees.
The Department of Defense has also provided mental health resources to employees who are struggling with the conflict, according to a department official cited by Politico.
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