Outcome of midterms unlikely to improve the Senate confirmation process for executive branch nominees The time it takes to confirm presidential appointments in the Senate has grown longer and longer over the past four decades, despite several changes to Senate rules. The results of the midterm elections are unlikely to reverse the 40-year pattern. Read More
Two decades later: How lessons from the 9/11 Commission Report can help us improve the political appointment process and protect our national security The 9/11 Commission Report revealed our country’s flawed political appointment process and showed how slow Senate confirmations can imperil our national security. In the aftermath of 9/11, new laws were passed to address the report’s recommendations, but improvements can still be made to create a more efficient Senate confirmation process. Read More
It’s time for the Senate to confirm a permanent OPM director. Here’s why. The Office of Personnel Management enables employees and agencies to work better. However, a lack of permanent leadership for much of the past decade has hampered OPM’s ability to support the 2 million public servants who work in government. In this post, Partnership President and CEO Max Stier urges the full Senate to act quickly on the nomination of Kiran Ahuja to serve as the agency’s new leader. Read More
Three lessons to make government work better now and in the future The people in this country, and leaders in the executive branch and Congress can all work together to improve government. These three foundational lessons can help these groups connect to solve today’s challenges and build a more effective government. Read More
Why the transition isn’t over: What’s next for the Biden administration To mark the first 100 days of President Biden’s administration, the Center for Presidential Transition and the University of Virginia’s Miller Center co-hosted an event, entitled “Why the Transition isn’t Over: A Look at What’s Next for the Biden Administration,” featuring a bipartisan panel of former senior administration officials. The panelists discussed their experiences working on presidential transitions and gave insights into a new administration’s first 100 days. Read More
The leadership role of the Cabinet secretary and deputy secretary Cabinet secretaries and deputy secretaries play an important role in advising the president and developing the vision for their departments. The Center for Presidential Transition has refreshed several guides which outline best practices for new secretaries and deputy secretaries to follow when they take office. Read More
Biden administration’s success depends on how they handle the federal government’s leadership crisis In his first days in office, President Biden has taken significant steps to demonstrate how he will lead the government’s 2.1 million civil servants. We commend the new administration for taking early action to rebuild the federal workforce and offer recommendations for the team to focus on next. Read More
A time to heal and embark on a peaceful, effective transfer of presidential power Partnership President and CEO Max Stier shares his reflections on an effective transfer of power in the aftershocks of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Read More
The main responsibilities of a presidential transition team Presidential candidates rely on their transition teams to manage critical pre-election and post-election responsibilities. On the Transition Lab podcast, host Dave Marchick spoke to members of past transition teams to learn more about their roles. Read More
