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As presidential campaign comes into focus, candidates must focus on effective transition planning. Read our statement

Watch the “Our Government Explained” video about the role of the transition process in preparing a president-elect to run the country. Watch here

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2024 Presidential Transition Updates

Incoming administrations have roughly 75 days between Election Day and Inauguration Day to prepare to govern. Our resources below outline what happens during this phase of a presidential transition, provide real-time updates on the current process and offer support to career federal employees who are navigating this time of change.
Transition resourcesFederal employee resources

Since 2008, the Partnership for Public Service has been working with presidential candidates, their transition teams and incumbent administrations to ensure smooth and effective presidential transitions.

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Ready to Serve®

Our Ready to Serve resources give aspiring political appointees the information and tools needed to navigate the federal appointments process. We help prospective appointees learn about possible roles, background checks, ethics requirements, and, for the most senior-level positions, the Senate confirmation process.

Transition Timeline

Stay informed about upcoming milestones and statutory requirements for presidential transition teams, federal agencies and the White House.

Political Appointments Over Time

See how the Senate confirmation process is taking longer than ever before for top positions in recent presidential administrations.

Ready to Govern®

Our Ready to Govern program helps political appointees accelerate their impact by helping them better understand their roles and the unique aspects of leading in the federal government.

“I cannot imagine doing a presidential transition in a modern era without the Partnership.”

 

Ted Kaufman, co-chair of the Biden-Harris transition team; former senator of Delaware; Center Advisory Board

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Latest Blogs and Research

The Presidential Transition: What Happens Next? 
The peaceful transition of power between presidents is a hallmark of American democracy, ensuring the government continues to function smoothly regardless of political change. But what exactly happens after Election Day?  Here’s an overview of the key steps in the post-election presidential transition process and why it’s critical for the stability of our democracy.  1.…
Presidential Transition
November 07, 2024
The public’s confidence in the peaceful transfer of power has increased, although one-third still have doubts 
As Election Day approaches, much attention has been paid to the difficult events that occurred during the post-election period four years ago. However, confidence that the upcoming presidential election will lead to a peaceful transfer of power has increased dramatically over the past six months.   Regardless of the outcome of the election, the public overwhelmingly…
Presidential Transition
October 23, 2024
How federal transition service providers support effective presidential transitions
Presidential transitions are complex operations that involve coordination across the federal government. A handful of agencies play a crucial role in preparing the government for an effective transfer of power. As election day approaches, here is a brief overview of these agencies, their responsibilities and how they support presidential transition planning.  General Services Administration   GSA…
Presidential Transition
October 10, 2024
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Political Appointee Tracker

Launched in 2016 with The Washington Post, the Political Appointee Tracker has been following roughly 800 of the 1,200 political appointed positions that require Senate confirmation, including Cabinet secretaries, chief financial officers, general counsels and ambassadors.

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“The Center is a great convening place for expertise on presidential transitions without an agenda other than making government work.”

 

Josh Bolten, former chief of staff to President George W. Bush

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