Appointee Orientation

The Presidential Transition Act was amended in 2000 to require the General Services Administration (GSA) to provide training and orientation of individuals who the President intends to appoint to certain key positions.

This training and orientation is designed to help prospective Presidential political appointees learn more about the problems and challenges they may face when they move from campaign activities to assuming a new role in government.

Training and orientation may include briefings by:

• Individuals who held similar leadership roles in previous administrations;
• Department or agency experts from the Office of Management and Budget or an Office of Inspector General from a department or agency; and/or
• Relevant staff from the Government Accountability Office

   Other topics included in training and orientation include but are not limited to:

• Records management with particular emphasis on Presidential records and personal records; and
• Human Resources Management and performance-based management