2016 Transition Activities

The 2016 Presidential transition process consists of the following three phases, each comprised of major activities. The timeline and major activities described are crucial to the successful transfer of power between the incoming and outgoing Administrations.

Phase 1: Pre-Election

May 6, 2016: Transition Councils Formally Established

In May, the President issued an Executive Order that took the following steps to provide governance for the transition:

Created the White House Transition Coordinating Council (WHTCC), which is chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President and comprised largely of senior White House officials, to oversee the overall transition effort;
Created the Agency Transition Directors Council (ATDC), which is co-chaired by the Federal Transition Coordinator at the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Deputy Director for Management at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and comprised of senior career officials from twenty-one agencies, to manage day-to-day agency transition activities; and
Directs the ATDC to consult on transition-related issues with the existing President’s Management Council (PMC), which is chaired by the OMB Deputy Director for Management and comprised of Deputy Secretaries from large agencies, to maintain consistent engagement by senior agency leadership.

Working in close coordination, these three councils provide guidance to agencies in gathering briefing materials and other information relating to the Presidential transition. The councils also oversee the preparation of career employees who are designated to fill non-career positions on an interim basis during a Presidential transition, and assist in the off-boarding of political appointees concluding their service and the on-boarding of political appointees joining service to work for the President-elect. In addition to these three councils, OMB and GSA are convening regular calls and meetings with other Federal agencies, boards and commissions throughout the government so that they receive guidance for their respective transition preparations.

May 6, 2016: Agency Transition Leads Designated

In May, the head of each agency also designate senior career employees from the agency to serve on the ATDC. The ATDC meets on a monthly basis to share best practices and discuss issues. In addition, agencies also designated senior career leadership for each agency major component and sub-component to implement activities relating to the Presidential transition. Staff within each agency meets on an as-needed basis to prepare their agencies. As mentioned above, OMB and GSA are convening regular calls and meetings with Federal agencies, boards and commissions not represented on the ATDC so that they receive guidance for their respective transition preparations.

August 1, 2016: Eligible Candidates Offered Transition Services and Facilities

Following the nominating conventions in late July, the transition teams of each eligible Presidential candidate are offered the use of facilities and related services to prepare for the coming change in government. These teams focus on the development of their candidate’s policy agenda and personnel so that he or she is ready to govern if elected.

September 15, 2016: Acting Officers Identified for Vacant Non-Career Positions

In preparation for potential gaps between the exit and on-boarding of senior political appointees between Administrations, agency heads must identify qualified career employees to serve in critical non-career positions in an acting capacity if a position becomes vacant. These “Acting Officers” should be identified by September 15 in accordance with the Vacancy Reform Act (VRA).

November 1, 2016: Agency Briefing Materials Finalized

In line with guidance from the ATDC, agencies prepare briefing materials and information relating to the Presidential transition for Agency Review Teams (also known as Agency Landing Teams), who will review briefing materials and meet with internal agency transition teams to better understand each agency and its current state of affairs. Briefing materials are prepared for two audiences: Agency Review Teams and incoming political appointees following the Inauguration. Agency Review Teams (see below) begin arriving at agencies after the election and are responsible for gathering information about the structure, function, and pressing issues facing federal agencies. Accordingly, these materials include, but are not limited to, an agency’s mission, vision and strategic goals; organizational chart; budget; human capital overview; current Presidential appointees; and an overview of priority issues facing the organization.

Phase 2: Post-Election

November 9, 2016: President-elect and Vice-President-elect Offered Support

Following the election on November 8, the Administration (through GSA) will offer services and facilities to the President-elect and Vice-President-elect as they prepare to assume their duties. Post-election support will begin immediately following the GSA Administrator’s ascertainment of the apparent successful candidates for the Office of President and Vice-President. The offices for the President-elect’s transition will be located at GSA headquarters.

November 9, 2016: Agency Review Teams Begin Arriving at Agencies

Soon after the election, Agency Review Teams will be deployed by the President-elect to federal agencies. As mentioned above, the teams review briefing materials and meet with internal agency transition teams to better understand each agency and its current state of affairs. In 2008, the Obama-Biden Transition team had approximately 500 agency review team members across more than 60 agencies and Executive Office of the President (EOP) components. For further information, please refer to the Memorandum of Understanding regarding transition procedures, identification of transition contacts, and access to non-public government and transition information.

November 9, 2016: Selection of Incoming Presidential Appointees Begins

Following the election, the incoming Administration begins identifying, selecting, and vetting candidates for approximately 4,100 Presidential appointments. In some cases, an eligible candidate may begin identifying and vetting of potential appointees during the pre-election phase. Announcements of candidates for key positions often occur between the election and Inauguration. Nominations of individuals for Senate-confirmed appointments, confirmation of nominees, and appointments to positions not requiring Senate confirmation begin on Inauguration Day and continue through the post-Inauguration phase. Presidential appointments may involve background, security, and financial disclosure reviews conducted by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) prior to nomination. Agency Reviews and information from OPM plays a key role in understanding, from a human capital perspective, the skills, number, and types of Presidential appointments that need to be made.

Phase 3: Post-Inauguration

January 20, 2017: Inauguration & On-boarding of New Political Appointees Begins

Inauguration Day marks the official end of the current Administration. In past transitions, the President has requested all non-termed political appointees to submit in advance a letter of resignation effective upon the swearing-in of the new President. On this day, agencies will begin on-boarding new appointees and will continue to do so over the course of 2017. On-boarding includes appointee orientation activities, such as briefings and workshops, which are funded through the GSA. On January 20, 2009, the Obama Administration had seven Senate-confirmed appointees ready to begin work.