As presidential campaign comes into focus, candidates must focus on effective transition planning

July 23, 2024

GSA transition support available to nominees beginning Aug. 27 

WASHINGTON – The nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service today released the following statement from President and CEO Max Stier on the impacts of President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the election campaign on transition planning for a new administration: 

“In the drama of this unprecedented political moment, let’s not forget that the job of a presidential candidate is not just to win an election but to be prepared to govern effectively on Day One. It is a fundamental responsibility of our government to keep us safe, and at a time of great uncertainty around the world, ensuring an incoming administration is ready to lead on Jan. 20 takes on even greater importance. 

“By modern standards, both sides are now well behind schedule when it comes to planning to get ready to govern. The Democratic presidential nominee, likely Vice President Kamala Harris, will need to move quickly to set up a transition team, and that work should begin now. Likewise, the Trump campaign should announce an official transition team that represents the candidate and begin this important work in earnest. 

“The General Services Administration makes transition support available to both major-party candidates on Aug. 27. The federal government is ready to support major candidates’ transition teams, and that support is vital for the enormous task of preparing to lead the largest and most critical democratic institution.” 

Max Stier, along with Valerie Smith Boyd, director of the Center for Presidential Transition^®, will host a media briefing call on Thursday, July 25, at 9:30 a.m. ET. To register and receive access information, please email Enzo Benoit at ebenoit@ourpublicservice.org.  

The Partnership for Public Service’s Center for Presidential Transition^® serves as the premier nonpartisan source of information and resources to help presidential candidates and their teams lay the groundwork for a new administration or 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. Our resources include:  

• Presidential Transition Guide – The fifth edition of the Presidential Transition Guide, released in 2023, covers the major activities of a transition for non-incumbent presidential candidates and their top campaign and transition staff, as well as the role of the incumbent administration in supporting transition efforts to prepare for a possible turnover.  

• Agency Transition Guide – This guide helps career officials build well-organized internal transition teams to provide incoming senior leaders with critical information about agency policies, operations, budgets and personnel.  

• Second-Term Planning Guide – Produced in partnership with the Boston Consulting Group, this new resource provides recommendations to White House incumbents to harness their first-term achievements and set the stage for new progress. 

• Transition Lab – The Center’s podcast explores issues surrounding transitions, talks to veterans of past transitions and illuminates what it takes to be ready to govern 

• The Center’s online platform, presidentialtransition.org, contains an extensive collection of historical documents from previous presidential transitions and additional guidance such as appointee position descriptions and templates for transition materials. 

During the past 22 years, the nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service has been dedicated to building a better government and a stronger democracy. We work across administrations to help transform the way government works by providing agencies with the data insights they need to succeed, developing effective leaders, inspiring the next generation to public service, facilitating smooth presidential transitions and recognizing exceptional federal employees. Visit ourpublicservice.org, follow us @PublicService and subscribe today to get the latest federal news, information on upcoming Partnership programs and events, and more.   

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