The Biden administration has extended federal resources to Donald Trump and Kamala Harris for their presidential transition planning for the first time on Tuesday. Experts have pointed out that both candidates seem to be lagging in their preparation for potential administrations. Transition efforts typically accelerate after Election Day, involving tasks such as appointing and vetting thousands of federal political positions. The success of the transition largely relies on the groundwork laid before the election, including establishing agency review teams and commencing background checks for national security staff.
Vice President Harris and former President Trump only recently initiated their transition processes, which is later than previous transitions. Harris assumed the Democratic presidential nominee position just five weeks ago, following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from seeking re-election. On the other hand, Trump secured the nomination months ago, raising questions as to why he did not start the transition process sooner.
Max Stier, the president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, noted that in recent times, the preparations for taking office usually begin in late spring. While it is possible to catch up, both candidates have a substantial amount of work ahead of them. The congressionally mandated deadline for the General Services Administration to provide office space for both candidates is three business days after the second nominating convention. This office space is located near the White House, with additional federal resources slated to be allocated to the winner post-election day.
Harris may opt to retain some political appointees from the Biden administration to potentially avoid challenging confirmation battles if Republicans gain control of the Senate. However, significant changes are expected as Harris will seek to imprint her own approach on the government. Conversely, Trump is likely aiming to avoid the pitfalls of his 2016 transition, which lacked sufficient planning, leaving his team unprepared after Election Day.
Transition efforts in the modern era have faced challenges, notably in same-party handoffs, where expectations of continuity between presidents can be misplaced, and there is a risk of overconfidence among those recently involved in government assuming key roles. Trump recently established his transition team, to be led by Linda McMahon and Howard Lutnick. Conversely, Harris has appointed Yohannes Abraham to lead her transition planning for the White House.
Both candidates have received offers of federal support for their transition planning. However, Trump has not committed to accepting this support, citing concerns about classified information leaks. GSA is mandated by law to provide federal office space and IT support to transition teams after they have entered into memoranda of understanding. Both teams are expected to establish the infrastructure necessary to engage with federal agencies and handle personnel and policy planning efficiently if victorious.
In anticipation of the transition, the Biden administration has been laying the foundation for months in compliance with the Presidential Transition Act. A federal transition coordinating council, chaired by Biden’s chief of staff Jeff Zients, is actively preparing for the transition of power. Teams comprising federal agents and government employees are poised to vet potential staff and appointees. Transition teams are required to adhere to an ethics plan and disclose donors to receive government funds.
