Preparing to lead the nation, whether it’s a presidential hopeful or an incumbent seeking a second term, requires extensive planning on personnel, policy and governance far in advance of Election Day. Managed well, this planning can lead to success. Handled poorly, a president can be susceptible to strategic errors and face difficulty responding to serious national security and domestic challenges.
WHAT WE’RE DOING
The Partnership for Public Service’s Center for Presidential Transition is the nation’s premier nonpartisan resource designed to help presidential candidates and their teams lay the groundwork for a new administration or prepare for a president’s second term.
The Center provides critical assistance on how to organize and execute a transition; helps agency career executives prepare for new political leadership; offers guidance to political appointees on the unique aspects of government leadership; and engages with Congress to promote transition reforms. In addition, the Center helps incumbent presidents prepare for a second term or facilitate a smooth transfer of power for a new administration.
The Center focuses on several significant issues
Assists presidential candidates, the incumbent administration and agencies with planning
Our comprehensive Presidential Transition Guide serves as a roadmap for transition planning while our Agency Transition Guide helps career officials prepare critical information for incoming senior leaders. We have assembled a library of past transition documents and offer a series of nonpartisan conferences and roundtable discussions for candidates and their transition teams.
Prepares presidential appointees to succeed
Serving America through a presidential appointment is a great honor and responsibility, but the selection process can be time-consuming and complicated. Ready to Serve is our centralized resource that guides candidates through every step of this process Getting started early is important.
Our Ready to Govern® program prepares political appointees to lead by deepening their understanding of unique federal management issues.
Advocates for reforms and draws
attention to transition issues
We work with Congress to promote transition reforms and streamline the appointments process. In collaboration with The Washington Post, our online Political Appointee Tracker provides real-time data on the status of political appointments, holding the administration and the Senate accountable for timely action.
Identifies and promotes sound management practices for a more effective government
We provide expertise on the government’s talent and operational challenges, and bring together diverse perspectives to sustain momentum and institutional knowledge on federal management issues.
RECENT NEWS
Opinion: For Biden, 44 confirmations down, only 1,156 to go
May 2, 2021
Publication Type: In the News
The Biden administration is winning praise because it managed to get 44 appointees through Senate confirmation and into their offices by its 100th day.
High number of Trump political appointees sought permanent jobs in final year
April 10, 2021
Publication Type: In the News
The number of political appointees who sought permanent positions in the final year of former President Donald Trump’s term outpaced the number who did so under his predecessor during the same time frame, according to documents obtained by NBC News.
Biden Moving Slowly in Filling Key National-Security Posts
March 24, 2021
Publication Type: In the News
WASHINGTON—President Biden has yet to name hundreds of administration officials requiring Senate confirmation to military, diplomatic and intelligence posts, making it unlikely that his security agencies will be fully staffed until fall, officials say.
PARTNERSHIP BLOG
OUR EXPERTS
Paul Hitlin
Senior Research and Analysis Manager for the Center for Presidential Transition
About Paul
For more information on our presidential transition work, sign up for our newsletter below or contact Shannon Carroll at scarroll@ourpublicservice.org.