{"id":19867,"date":"2016-05-18T19:32:16","date_gmt":"2016-05-18T19:32:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/uncategorized\/2016\/05\/18\/presidential-transition-gets-underway-in-earnest\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T04:55:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T04:55:43","slug":"presidential-transition-gets-underway-in-earnest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/opinions\/2016\/05\/18\/presidential-transition-gets-underway-in-earnest\/","title":{"rendered":"Presidential transition gets underway in earnest"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The engine of presidential transition has rumbled to life.Campaigns are standing\u00a0up<\/a> transition teams. Agencies that have a direct role such as the General Services Administration, National Archives and Records Administration, and Office of Government Ethics, are gearing up<\/a>.\u00a0Federal agencies are naming career transition leaders and identifying people to serve in acting capacities<\/a>. Even Congress jumped in to help with recent legislation<\/a> that enhances transition preparation.These are encouraging signs and reflect increased attention<\/a> on transition as the magnitude and importance of the task \u2014\u00a0and the risks from doing it poorly<\/a> \u2014\u00a0have been illuminated<\/a>.The recent release of President Barack Obama’s transition executive order<\/a> is another important step. It delineates the role of the White House and agencies, and sets up a two-tiered system of preparation. Interestingly, it also invites transition teams to participate in both of the transition councils. The order also emphasizes the importance of career leadership during the transition importance through a focus on succession planning and preparation of acting leaders.The experience of conducting a transition during an active conflict, and in the midst of the financial crisis of 2008-09, is reflected in the administration’s approach. As the beneficiary in 2008 of what has been described<\/a> as the smoothest transition in history, President Obama’s order signals his intent to pay it forward with his own administration’s preparations.The White House Transition Coordinating Council, chaired by Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, will set overall policy and levels of engagement with the campaign transition teams. The council will also provide guidance on White House specific transition activities, such as presidential personnel, and coordinate national security and economic policy preparations.The Agency Transition Directors Council will be co-chaired by the federal transition coordinator, GSA senior career executive Tim Horne, and the OMB deputy director for management\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Andrew Mayock has been nominated for this role but not yet confirmed.The Federal Transition Coordinator will sit on each council to ensure consistent interpretation and execution of transition planning.The membership of the two councils reflects their respective focus areas. The White House Transition Coordinating Council will consist of senior White House personnel (including Presidential Personnel Office), appointed leaders from national security, economic policy, OMB, GSA and the federal transition coordinator. The council will:<\/p>\n\n\n\n