Special Reports
The Presidential Transition
 |
Starting in January 2009, federal agencies will undergo the first change in presidential administrations in eight years. That means adjustments to a new president's policy priorities, management objectives and political appointees. For many long-serving federal employees, managers and executives, this is old hat. But for others, this will be the first time they go through the process. The good news is that many different organizations are gearing up to make the transition as smooth as possible. In this special section, we'll present regularly updated information and resources about transition-related activities. |
Official Transition Information
- Office of Personnel Management: Presidential Transition Guide to Federal Human Resources Management Matters
- Congressional Research Service Report: Presidential Transitions
- Presidential Transition Act of 2000
- Executive Order 13176: Facilitation of a Presidential Transition
- Homeland Security Advisory Council Transition Task Force report
Resources
- 2008 Presidential Transition Initiative
A regularly updated blog from the IBM Center for the Business of Government, containing links to a wealth of transition-related information. - Transitions in Governance
A wide variety of transition-related materials, sponsored by a coalition of good government organizations. - The Next Government
From the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania.
From the Government Executive Archives
- Fixing the Future (January 2008)
Donald F. Kettl, director of the University of Pennsylvania's Fels Institute of Government, argues that the next president must be ready to take on inescapable management problems. - Transition Management (Sept. 8, 2004)
Longtime federal official Dwight Ink says getting an administration up to speed requires the incoming president to include management as one of his priorities. - Tackling the Transition (January 2001)
Overhauling the mechanics of the transfer of power. - Transition Veteran: It Pays to Plan Ahead (Dec. 5, 2000)
An interview with Jack H. Watson Jr., President Carter's transition head and later chief of staff.
RECENT NEWS STORIES
- Defense to review 'unnecessary duplication' among services (05/09/08)
Critics have complained that vast sums of money are wasted due to the military operating four air forces, two land armies and overlapping intelligence and space programs. - Transition could create leadership void, report says (05/06/08)
Key agencies stand to lose more than 10 percent of their top officials when next administration takes over. - Democrats threaten to subpoena DHS transition plans (04/23/08)
House committee is giving the department until May 23 to produce documents, but law does not require DHS to submit plans to Congress. - Administration hopes to leave performance management legacy (04/21/08)
Critics are questioning the motives behind an executive order to improve government effectiveness. - OMB to agencies: Don't bother submitting 2010 budget requests (04/11/08)
Bush administration will leave the task of preparing a full fiscal 2010 budget to the next president's team. - Report identifies top 10 management challenges facing next administration (03/31/08)
Skyrocketing cost of health care, retirement programs could squeeze out other critical policy priorities, according to think tank. - Public satisfaction with e-government hits lowest level since 2005 (03/20/08)
Rising user expectations rather than a decline in service could account for lower score. - Homeland Security chief looks back, and forward (03/17/08)
Department's biggest challenge is keeping country positioned "between hysteria and complacency" on security, secretary says. - Survey: Fewer federal CIOs report directly to agency heads (02/28/08)
Security, standardization, consolidation listed among key issues facing technology leaders. - Career officials called key to management reform initiatives (02/25/08)
High-level attention needs to translate into long-term buy-in by civil servants, observers say. - DHS chief defends grant funding, new satellite office (02/14/08)
Congress won't see department transition plan before the incoming administration. - Budget breakdown: How agencies, programs fared (02/05/08)
Winners and losers in President Bush's fiscal 2009 budget proposal. - GSA seeks funding boost for DHS headquarters project (02/05/08)
Discretionary budget to more than double to cover costs for the proposed 1.2 million-square-foot facility. - Panel urges DHS to prepare for presidential transition (01/10/08)
Task force believes the most vulnerable time for the United States is 30 days before the change in administrations. - Administration faces big challenge in records preservation (01/10/08)
As deadline looms, White House and National Archives gauge progress.
