the presidential transition roadmap - the definitive...
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© 2016 POLITICO Pro 1
THE PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION ROADMAPTHE DEFINITIVE GUIDE
2017 PRESIDENTIALTRANSITION CHECKLIST
The presidential transition process
is a major undertaking. Transition
teams for major candidate are
responsible for the plan and prepare
for their candidate to smoothly begin
governance just a few short months
after Election Day.
For many in Washington, it is crucial
to follow every step of the presidential
transition from beginning to end.
That’s why we’ve created the 2017
Presidential Transition Checklist to
help you track the major milestones
of the transition process. Check off
the box as you complete each task
and you’ll be one-hundred percent
prepared for Transition 2017.
PRE-ELECTION TASKS: Develop profiles of transition teams’ leadership
Outline major policy promises of presidential candidates
Monitor early federal agency review plans
Begin shortlists of presidential appointment candidates
Review transition team budget preparations
POST-ELECTION TO INAUGURATION: Compile President-elect’s agency review reports
Update shortlists of presidential appointment candidates
Expand summary of incoming administration’s policy priorities
Enhance summary of new administration’s budget preparation
THE FIRST 100 DAYS: Profile incoming head of each new federal agency
Profile Key Cabinet and White House appointments
Track Senate-confirmation of remaining appointments
Monitor early policy implementation and budget agenda
© 2016 POLITICO Pro 2
Presidential Transition Timeline
5 Things You Need to Know
Inside Hillary Clinton’s Transition Team
Inside Donald Trump’s Transition Team
2017 Presidential Transition Checklist
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
© 2016 POLITICO Pro 1
2017 PRESIDENTIALTRANSITION CHECKLIST
The presidential transition process
is a major undertaking. Transition
teams for major candidate are
responsible for the plan and prepare
for their candidate to smoothly begin
governance just a few short months
after Election Day.
For many in Washington, it is crucial
to follow every step of the presidential
transition from beginning to end.
That’s why we’ve created the 2017
Presidential Transition Checklist to
help you track the major milestones
of the transition process. Check off
the box as you complete each task
and you’ll be one-hundred percent
prepared for Transition 2017.
PRE-ELECTION TASKS: Develop profiles of transition teams’ leadership
Outline major policy promises of presidential candidates
Monitor early federal agency review plans
Begin shortlists of presidential appointment candidates
Review transition team budget preparations
POST-ELECTION TO INAUGURATION: Compile President-elect’s agency review reports
Update shortlists of presidential appointment candidates
Expand summary of incoming administration’s policy priorities
Enhance summary of new administration’s budget preparation
THE FIRST 100 DAYS: Profile incoming head of each new federal agency
Profile Key Cabinet and White House appointments
Track Senate-confirmation of remaining appointments
Monitor early policy implementation and budget agenda
THE PRESIDENTIALTRANSITION ROADMAP
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER NOVEMBER 8?
• Agency review teams launched
• Top 50 Cabinet appointees selected • Key White House personnel selected
• Policy implementation plan developed• Budget and management agenda established • Intended Cabinet agency appointments delivered to the Senate
• New member orientation begins
• Lame-duck session begins
• New Congress sworn in • 115th Congress begins
• Agency review reports submitted• Briefing of incoming agency heads completed • Cabinet orientation/retreat prepared
• Top 100 Senate-confirmed positions filled
• Remaining 300-400 presidential appointments filled
EARLY NOVEMBER
PRE-THANKSGIVING
NOVEMBER/ DECEMBER
LATE NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
EARLY JANUARY
JANUARY
END OF APRIL
AUGUST
© 2016 POLITICO Pro *Information from the Center for Presidential Transition and POLITICO was used to create this timeline.
THE PRESIDENTIALTRANSITION TIMELINE
*Information from the Center for Presidential Transition and POLITICO was used to create this timeline. © 2016 POLITICO Pro
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER NOVEMBER 8?
© 2016 POLITICO Pro 2
2017 PRESIDENTIALTRANSITION CHECKLIST
The presidential transition process
is a major undertaking. Transition
teams for major candidate are
responsible for the plan and prepare
for their candidate to smoothly begin
governance just a few short months
after Election Day.
For many in Washington, it is crucial
to follow every step of the presidential
transition from beginning to end.
That’s why we’ve created the 2017
Presidential Transition Checklist to
help you track the major milestones
of the transition process. Check off
the box as you complete each task
and you’ll be one-hundred percent
prepared for Transition 2017.
PRE-ELECTION TASKS: Develop profiles of transition teams’ leadership
Outline major policy promises of presidential candidates
Monitor early federal agency review plans
Begin shortlists of presidential appointment candidates
Review transition team budget preparations
POST-ELECTION TO INAUGURATION: Compile President-elect’s agency review reports
Update shortlists of presidential appointment candidates
Expand summary of incoming administration’s policy priorities
Enhance summary of new administration’s budget preparation
THE FIRST 100 DAYS: Profile incoming head of each new federal agency
Profile Key Cabinet and White House appointments
Track Senate-confirmation of remaining appointments
Monitor early policy implementation and budget agenda
On Inauguration Day, political pundits and all Americans
witness the peaceful transition of executive power to
a new presidential administration. On television, this
handoff appears effortless, but a presidential transition
is the culmination of a long series of events, many of
which occur far beyond the public spotlight.
The presidential transition process begins as early as
six months before Election Day and continues through
the first 100 days of a new presidency. The transition
formally begins when each party’s campaign establishes
its transition team to prepare their candidate to enter
the White House in January.
New laws have formalized the transition process.Fears, especially post 9/11, that an inefficient transfer of executive power could leave the
United States vulnerable led Congress to establish two laws to formalize the presidential
transition process.
The impact of these new laws has made the current presidential transition unique. For
the first time, the opposing transition teams are working out of the same government-
appointed office building. This proximity has led the Clinton and Trump camps to over-
emphasize secrecy and discretion around sensitive information.
Pre-Election Presidential Transition Act of 2010: This law directs the General Services
Administration to supply the major-party
presidential candidates (and any “principal
contenders” from a third party) with office
space, equipment and administrative support
within three business days of each party’s
formal nomination.
Presidential Transitions Improvements Act (2015): This law directs the executive
branch to establish two panels, one for the
White House and one for federal agencies,
that help to coordinate the transfer of power
to the next president. Each panel is required
by law to have a representative from each
transition team.
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5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOWABOUT THE PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION
© 2016 POLITICO Pro 3
Clinton Transition Chairman:Ken Salazar, former Interior secretary
Key StaffTom Donilon, Obama’s former
national security adviser
former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm
Neera Tanden, president of the
Center for American Progress
the Rev. Leah Daughtry, a veteran
Democratic operative
Maggie Williams, a longtime Clinton
ally and director of Harvard’s Institute
of Politics
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Trump Transition Chairman:Chris Christie, New Jersey governor
Key StaffBill Palatucci, Christie’s former law
partner and longtime political ally
Rich Bagger, Christie’s longtime political
ally and former chief of staff
Ed Meese, former attorney general
and longtime aide to President Ronald
Reagan
Eric Ueland, veteran Republican Capitol
Hill aide and top staffer on the Senate
Budget Committee
The makeup of a transition team is very important.The makeup of each campaign’s transition team consists of party insiders, political allies
and policy experts. Each team includes hired staff and a small army of volunteers who take
on an enormous workload. If Elizabeth Warren’s point that “personnel is policy” holds
true, then a close look at key transition staff can reveal a lot about the early plans for a
Clinton or Trump presidency.
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Transition teams focus on three big tasks. 1. Fundraising: Of course, transition teams are in part funded by Congress. However,
they still need to raise funds to cover all expenses. The Partnership for Public Service
estimates that Clinton and Trump will each need to raise $4 million to $5 million to pay for
pre-election and post-election expenses.
2. Government Appointments: A new administration has the responsibility to fill
roughly 4,000 politically appointed positions within the executive branch (about one-
quarter of which will require Senate confirmation). Members of each transition team will
vigorously vet and screen candidates to create shortlists of candidates for these positions.
3. Policy Preparation: Both candidates must produce a clear policy agenda that can be
put into action on Day 1 in office. This process requires the transition teams to go through
intensive research and deliver an actionable policy strategy (more on policy in No. 4).
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© 2016 POLITICO Pro 4
Preparations for the new administration’s 1st 100 days are meticulous.The first 100 days of the presidency are critical and an early indication of how well an
administration will perform. In the modern era, the first 100 days has seen a flurry of
executive action and legislation to jumpstart the principal policy goals of the new president.
After Election Day: On to the White House, federal agencies! (Losers go home)After the election, the losing transition team will wind itself down. For the winning
side, the work continues as the team will follow plans to send transition aides into
the complex world of federal agencies. At each agency, transition team members
will begin preparations for proposed regulations, rulings and other executive actions.
Other transition team members will continue discussions with the White House
transition panel to ensure a smooth handoff of presidential power.
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Campaign promises: A key task for transition teams
is to catalog their respective
candidate’s promises from the
campaign trail. With a long,
drawn-out campaign season,
this is not an easy task.
Policy prioritization: Next, each transition team will
designate which policy items
to implement first. What each
camp determines to prioritize
will be a strong indication
of what the new president’s
administration will focus on in
its first 100 days in office.
Budget Preparation: Both transition teams must
outline a prepared budget,
which is due shortly after the
Inauguration.
Transition teams are not simply creating a policy wish list for their candidate. They need to
create a realistic approach to how they can accomplish these goals, most of which require
legislation. Therefore, as part of their preparation for the first 100 days, each team includes
various options and strategies on how to sell their policy visions to Congress (and the
public). The uncertain makeup of the 115th Congress, especially in the Senate, makes this
task even more challenging.
© 2016 POLITICO Pro 5
2017 PRESIDENTIALTRANSITION CHECKLIST
The presidential transition process
is a major undertaking. Transition
teams for major candidate are
responsible for the plan and prepare
for their candidate to smoothly begin
governance just a few short months
after Election Day.
For many in Washington, it is crucial
to follow every step of the presidential
transition from beginning to end.
That’s why we’ve created the 2017
Presidential Transition Checklist to
help you track the major milestones
of the transition process. Check off
the box as you complete each task
and you’ll be one-hundred percent
prepared for Transition 2017.
PRE-ELECTION TASKS: Develop profiles of transition teams’ leadership
Outline major policy promises of presidential candidates
Monitor early federal agency review plans
Begin shortlists of presidential appointment candidates
Review transition team budget preparations
POST-ELECTION TO INAUGURATION: Compile President-elect’s agency review reports
Update shortlists of presidential appointment candidates
Expand summary of incoming administration’s policy priorities
Enhance summary of new administration’s budget preparation
THE FIRST 100 DAYS: Profile incoming head of each new federal agency
Profile Key Cabinet and White House appointments
Track Senate-confirmation of remaining appointments
Monitor early policy implementation and budget agenda
INSIDE HILLARY CLINTON’STRANSITION TEAM
Hillary Clinton has added to her transition team. The Rev. Leah Daughtry, a seasoned Democratic operative, will help staff Clinton’s potential White House. Daughtry will help lead the transition operation’s personnel team, according to two sources familiar with the hire. Daughtry joins a team of experienced campaign operatives, think-tankers, advisers and former elected officials, who, like Daughtry, have had a longtime connection to Hillary Clinton and Capitol Hill. Clinton’s transition team, based in Washington, DC, is responsible for drafting policy agendas and hiring thousands of staffers so that a potential Clinton administration can hit the ground running on Day One. The Clinton transition team, as of September 29:
© 2016 POLITICO Pro 6
© 2016 POLITICO Pro 7
2017 PRESIDENTIALTRANSITION CHECKLIST
The presidential transition process
is a major undertaking. Transition
teams for major candidate are
responsible for the plan and prepare
for their candidate to smoothly begin
governance just a few short months
after Election Day.
For many in Washington, it is crucial
to follow every step of the presidential
transition from beginning to end.
That’s why we’ve created the 2017
Presidential Transition Checklist to
help you track the major milestones
of the transition process. Check off
the box as you complete each task
and you’ll be one-hundred percent
prepared for Transition 2017.
PRE-ELECTION TASKS: Develop profiles of transition teams’ leadership
Outline major policy promises of presidential candidates
Monitor early federal agency review plans
Begin shortlists of presidential appointment candidates
Review transition team budget preparations
POST-ELECTION TO INAUGURATION: Compile President-elect’s agency review reports
Update shortlists of presidential appointment candidates
Expand summary of incoming administration’s policy priorities
Enhance summary of new administration’s budget preparation
THE FIRST 100 DAYS: Profile incoming head of each new federal agency
Profile Key Cabinet and White House appointments
Track Senate-confirmation of remaining appointments
Monitor early policy implementation and budget agenda
INSIDE DONALD TRUMP’STRANSITION TEAMDonald Trump’s transition team has added a number of policy and personnel experts over the past week and will likely continue adding many more in the weeks to come. Transition teams usually have more volunteers than paid staff members and number in the hundreds by Election Day.
Until then, both transition teams will focus on developing a policy agenda, identifying hires to fill a staff of about 4,000 in the executive branch and fundraising. So far, Trump’s transition team has added a number of experienced policy experts, former advisers and officials, and lobbyists, as well as a mix of both conservative and establishment Republicans to its roster. Trump’s transition team, as of Oct 1:
© 2016 POLITICO Pro 8
© 2016 POLITICO Pro 9
2017 PRESIDENTIALTRANSITION CHECKLIST
The presidential transition process
is a major undertaking. Transition
teams for the major candidates are
responsible for creating the plan
for their candidate to smoothly begin
governance just a few short months
after Election Day.
For many in Washington, it is crucial
to follow every step of the presidential
transition from beginning to end.
That’s why we’ve created the 2017
Presidential Transition Checklist to
help you track the major milestones
of the transition process. Check off
the box when you complete each task
and you’ll be one-hundred percent
prepared for the new administration.
PRE-ELECTION TASKS: Develop profiles of transition teams’ leadership
Outline major policy promises of presidential candidates
Monitor early federal agency review plans
Begin shortlists of presidential appointment candidates
Review transition team budget preparations
POST-ELECTION TO INAUGURATION: Compile president-elect’s agency review reports
Update shortlists of presidential appointment candidates
Expand summary of incoming administration’s policy priorities
Enhance summary of new administration’s budget preparation
THE FIRST 100 DAYS: Profile incoming head of each federal agency
Profile key Cabinet and White House appointments
Track Senate confirmation of remaining appointments
Monitor early policy implementation and budget agenda
© 2016 POLITICO Pro 10
BONUS! Another unique result of a presidential transition is that thousands of new people will
arrive in DC to fill positions within the new administration. If you’re about to be new to
Washington DC, we’ve created a bonus checklist for the must-do activities around town.
NEW-TO-DC CHECKLIST Enjoy a meal at a famous Washington DC restaurant.
Take a walking tour of the Monuments on the National Mall.
Visit the museums. They’re free!
Admire the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin. (Springtime only!)
Catch a game, when the Nationals (MLB), Capitals (NHL), Wizards (NBA) or Redskins (NFL) are in town.
Ben’s Chili BowlBarack Obama visited this eatery in Washington’s Shaw neighborhood just 10 days before his inauguration in 2009.
The Old Ebbitt GrillAn American institution, it’s Washington’s oldest restaurant.
© 2016 POLITICO Pro 11
i n f o . p o l i t i c o p r o . c o m
DON’T MISS A BEAT AS THE 2017 TRANSITION UNFOLDS
STAY A STEP AHEAD WITH