Biden’s Dog Commander Removed From White House After Serial Biting Incidents

Commander, the 2-year-old German shepherd belonging to President Joe Biden, has been removed from the White House following a series of biting incidents involving United States Secret Service personnel and White House staff. NPR first reported the removal on Oct. 4, 2023, citing repeated attacks on agents as the cause ^[1]. The White House confirmed that Commander had been removed after the dog bit staffers and Secret Service officers ^[1].

The scope of the biting conduct came into sharper focus through litigation. Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog organization, filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, case No. 1:23-cv-00612, after the U.S. Secret Service failed to respond adequately to a December 28, 2022, FOIA request seeking records of any incidents of aggression or biting by Commander ^[2]. Internal agency emails obtained through that litigation documented at least 10 biting incidents involving Secret Service personnel as of January 2023, according to NPR ^[1]. A spreadsheet of 22 incident reports covering the period from October 2022 through June 2023 showed that 10 of those incidents required medical treatment ^[3].

Several of the documented incidents resulted in injuries requiring clinical attention. On June 15, 2023, an agent was attacked on the left arm and required stitches, and the injury was severe enough that East Wing tours were halted for 20 minutes to allow staff to clean blood from the floor ^[2]. A June 29, 2023, internal Secret Service email, produced in litigation, directed agents to "give lots of room" when Commander was present and acknowledged that agents needed to "be creative to ensure" their personal safety ^[2][3]. Incidents occurred not only at the White House but also at other locations including Wilmington, Delaware, Camp David, and Biden's Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, residence ^[2].

Commander, a purebred German shepherd acquired in December 2021, replaced the Bidens' prior dog, Major, who also left the White House following a series of attacks on Secret Service and White House staff ^[2]. According to an ABC News tally, more than 11 biting incidents were recorded before the dog was moved from the White House in October 2023 ^[4]. The Secret Service characterized the incidents as workplace injuries and stated they were documented in accordance with agency and Department of Homeland Security protocols ^[2].

The FOIA litigation over Commander's conduct remained active following the removal. Judicial Watch filed a second FOIA lawsuit against the U.S. Secret Service, case No. 1:23-cv-02960, seeking additional records regarding incidents of aggression and bites involving Commander ^[2]. By February 2024, Judicial Watch had received 269 pages of records reflecting at least 23 biting incidents ^[3]. The cases illuminate recurring questions about workplace safety obligations within the executive protective detail and the government's disclosure duties under the Freedom of Information Act.

References

[1] NPR. (2023, October 5). Biden's dog Commander has left the White House. https://www.npr.org/2023/10/04/1203808674/bidens-dog-commander-has-left-the-white-house

[2] The Washington Post. (2023, October 5). Commander is second Biden dog removed from White House after biting. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/10/05/biden-commander-dog-bites-removed/

[3] Judicial Watch. (2024, February 27). Judicial Watch Lawsuit: Records Reveal at Least 23 Biting Incidents by Biden's Dog Commander. https://www.judicialwatch.org/biting-incidents-bidens-dog/

[4] ABC News. (2024, June 16). Biden's dog Commander bit Secret Service agent while president was walking him, records show. https://abcnews.com/US/bidens-dog-commander-bit-secret-service-agent-president/story?id=111153139