White House Medical Unit

The WHMU is led by the Director, White House Medical Unit, typically a military O-6 (Army/Air Force Colonel, Navy Captain), who may also serve as the Physician to the President, although in recent years, the roles have frequently been separated.

[6] In addition to direct care duties as outlined above, the WHMU is responsible for all medical contingency planning for the White House and its key personnel under its mission of supporting the continuity of the presidency.

[4] The total number of staff on duty at the White House Medical Unit varies over time.

[4] According to a 2009 news report, doctors accepted for assignment to the WHMU undergo a full year of trauma care training before joining the staff.

[4] One former physician to the president described the White House unit as an urgent care center with a crash cart.

[4][5] Air Force Two contains a first aid unit as well as an automated external defibrillator, oxygen tanks, and limited pharmaceuticals.

[6][3] A WHMU physician and nurse also usually accompany the first lady of the United States when she travels, but a full medical staff and mobile operating suite are not assigned to her.

In January 2024, the Medical Unit and its pharmacy caught the media's attention when the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General issued an investigation report focused on prescription drug records and care between 2017 and 2019, during the presidency of Donald Trump.

The pharmacy dispensed expensive brand-name products for free, instead of cheaper generic equivalents, which is a violation of Defense department policy.

Also, the Medical Unit spent considerable amounts of money on health care for numerous ineligible White House staff members, employees and contractors.