In a modest office space located just a few blocks from the White House, experienced political strategists are preparing plans for a potential future government. Meanwhile, another similar suite within the government building remains unoccupied. Currently, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are orchestrating distinctly different transition activities in anticipation of possibly assuming control of the federal government. This behind-the-scenes operation is expected to gain prominence once a victor is determined.
Harris’ transition approach is systematic and thorough, reflecting a well-organized plan. Her team is spearheaded by Yohannes Abraham, the former U.S. ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. He previously served as the executive director of the Biden-Harris transition back in 2020 and is now implementing a structured operation.
The team has made arrangements with the current Biden administration to utilize federal office resources and initiate the vetting of key national security appointments. They have established an ethics framework, which includes capping contributions at $5,000 and committing to the transparency of donor information.
Conversely, Trump’s transition team consists mainly of close associates, including family members and former Democratic presidential contenders like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard. His adult sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, along with running mate JD Vance, are also involved. The team’s leadership includes Howard Lutnick, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, and Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive known for managing Trump’s Small Business Administration.
Unlike Harris’ team, Trump has chosen not to seek federal resources for his transition effort as of yet. His aides have not finalized necessary agreements with the General Services Administration (GSA) and the White House to secure government office environments, technical support, and security clearance procedures. While they anticipate reaching an agreement soon, some insiders believe this may only happen if Trump wins the election. According to a source familiar with the discussions, the cause of the delay relates to ethics stipulations and limitations on private donations mandated by the Presidential Transition Act.
This act was created to ensure major party nominees are prepared to take over promptly on Inauguration Day, mandating the GSA to establish an agreement with qualified candidates by September 1 and for the White House to finalize their agreements by October 1. However, these deadlines have already passed.
Trump successfully bridged similar agreements with the Obama administration during his initial 2016 presidential campaign, but after the 2020 election, modifications were made to the law, imposing stricter rules on private donations and ethics integrity during the transition process.
A representative from the Biden administration indicated that they are “actively working with the Trump transition team” to finalize the necessary agreements.
Despite not adhering to the government’s suggested strategy, Trump’s transition operations are making progress, particularly in staffing decisions. Several allied organizations, including the America First Policy Institute (where McMahon is chair), have spent considerable time creating policy guides, sample executive orders, and legislative proposals to give forthcoming Republican administrations a framework to work with.
The Heritage Foundation has also developed strategic policy plans along with a personnel database labeled under its “Project 2025” initiative; however, Trump has distanced himself from this project, criticizing its more radical proposals amidst Democratic scrutiny.
Trump and his campaign harbor a significant distrust towards the current administration, alleging that it has made attempts to thwart his election bid through various investigations and indictments. After experiencing assassination attempts, Trump has accused President Joe Biden of inadequately supplying Secret Service protection, which has reportedly led to event rescheduling and cancellations. Additionally, his aides claim that the Biden administration’s response towards threats made against Trump from foreign entities has been lackluster.
In a recent statement, Trump’s transition co-chairs expressed optimism about signing all the necessary memorandums of understanding shortly. Lutnick and McMahon mentioned that Trump-Vance transition attorneys are continuing to have constructive discussions with the Biden administration regarding compliance with requirements, asserting that any contrary claims are misleading.
All staff involved in the transition are obliged to sign their own ethics pledge as part of the process.
However, the sluggish pace of Trump’s team poses risks not only to the peaceful transition of leadership but also potentially to national security. Transition agreements must be established before the team can submit the names of prospective appointees to the FBI, allowing the agency to start the lengthy vetting process for top security clearances before Election Day.
Harris’ team is on track to establish agency review teams composed of former government officials and policy experts who will assess federal agencies comprehensively to determine how to align their operations with Harris’ vision. If victorious, Harris will lead the first presidential transition of the same party since 1989, when George H.W. Bush succeeded Ronald Reagan.
Typically, all political appointees from the outgoing administration are expected to resign, allowing Harris to decide whom to keep and who to replace. Retaining certain officials could be beneficial, particularly if the Senate shifts to Republican control, as it might mitigate contentious personnel conflicts on Capitol Hill.
Max Stier, CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, which provides nonpartisan guidance on best practices for transitions, remarked on the security risks associated with Trump’s decision to avoid the federally supported transition program. He indicated that opting out may complicate the staffing process required to effectively operate the government in a new direction.
Due to the ongoing delays, Trump’s team is also missing out on valuable government cybersecurity assistance, particularly critical as the campaign has already faced cyberattacks, including one attributed to Iran. As Stier emphasized, “the crucial question is who is adequately prepared to ensure our safety and run the government.”
Despite the contrasting approaches taken by both transition teams, they share some similarities in strategy, such as refraining from making personnel decisions prior to November 5. Both teams are currently taking a low-profile approach to avoid distractions and superstitions in the lead-up to Election Day.
Lutnick, in his role as co-chair of Trump’s transition team, has been compiling candidate lists for the former president’s consideration, though he refrains from discussing the process with Trump, who is known for his superstitious beliefs. He likened his process to creating a detailed mosaic, gathering an exceptional pool of candidates for the roles to present to Trump, aiming for eight outstanding candidates that could successfully navigate Senate confirmation.
Lutnick illustrated that this year’s approach is fundamentally distinct from the one used in 2016, which was initially managed by former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who was later dismissed by Trump, resulting in a complete overhaul of the plans. In interviews, he has made it clear that he intends to avoid involvement with Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 transition components, deeming it unsuitable.
Donald Trump Jr., although not currently active in the day-to-day functions of the team, is anticipated to increase his engagement post-election, sharing that his main responsibility will be to eliminate candidates who do not align with his father’s objectives.