2008-2009 Presidential Transition

Since President George Washington first relinquished his office to incoming President John Adams in 1797, this peaceful transition, symbolizing both continuity and change, has demonstrated the stability of our system of government. Aside from the symbolic transfer of power, an orderly transition from the outgoing Administration to the incoming Administration is essential to ensure continuity in the working affairs of government. Necessary funding for both the incoming and outgoing Administrations is authorized by the Presidential Transition Act (PTA), as amended. The General Services Administration (GSA) is authorized to provide suitable office space, staff compensation, communications services, and printing and postage costs associated with the transition. For the last presidential transition, GSA was authorized a total of $7.1 million in FY2001: $1.83 million for the outgoing William Clinton Administration; $4.27 million for the incoming Administration of George W. Bush; and $1 million for GSA to provide additional assistance as required by law.

The President’s FY2009 budget requests $8,520,000 in funding for the upcoming presidential transition.

-Source: "Presidential Transitions," CRS Report for Congress, RL30736, April 3, 2008

Presidential Transition Resources

Barack Obama

• Change.gov: Office of the President-Elect
  
  
• Blueprint for change: Obama and Biden's plan for America
  
  
• Video: Transition Update from Valerie Jarrett
  
  

U.S. Government Information

• Executive Order: Facilitation of a Presidential Transition
  The White House, October 9, 2008
  
  
• America.gov: Transition - forming the next government
  
  
• 2009 Congressional and Presidential Transition: Serving the Congress and the Nation
  U.S. Government Accountability Office
  
  
• 2008-2009 Presidential Transition Resources
  
  
• The Plum Book (United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions): 2008 Edition
  
  

CRS Reports

• Presidential Transitions: Issues Involving Outgoing and Incoming Administrations
  CRS Report for Congress, October 23, 2008 RL34722 (PDF 204 KB, 35 p.)
  
  
• 2008-2009 Presidential Transition: National Security Considerations and Options
  CRS Report for Congress, April 21, 2008 RL34456 (PDF 265 KB, 52 p.)
  
  
• Presidential Transitions
  CRS Report for Congress, April 3, 2008 RL30736, (PDF 212 KB, 40 p.)
  
  

Information Resource Bank Archive

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