Subcommittee Chairman Connolly's Opening Statement [PDF]

Chairwoman Maloney's Opening Statement [PDF]

On Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, will hold a remote hearing to examine the ongoing presidential transition, its challenges, and lessons already learned that can improve future transitions. 

A peaceful transfer of power is critical to the success of American democracy.  After weeks of delay, uncertainty, and lawsuits, the truncated transition from President Trump to President-elect Biden is happening during an unprecedented health crisis, a partisan campaign of disinformation, an economic collapse, and management challenges across the government.

In addition to these unprecedented concerns, outgoing administrations may take last-minute actions to benefit their party or their allies.  These include attempts to convert political employees to career civil servants known as “burrowing in,” improperly destroying or removing federal records, and hastily introducing new regulations at the end of presidential terms known as “midnight regulations.”

This hearing will discuss these concerns as well as the difficulties and opportunities of a presidential transition to potentially the most virtually operating administration ever and the expedited need to modernize federal governments IT.