2017 PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION CHECKLIST
THE PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION ROADMAP THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE The presidential transition process is a major undertaking. Transition
PRE-ELECTION TASKS:
teams for major candidate are
Develop profiles of transition teams’ leadership
responsible for the plan and prepare
Outline major policy promises of presidential candidates
for their candidate to smoothly begin governance just a few short months
Monitor early federal agency review plans
after Election Day.
Begin shortlists of presidential appointment candidates
For many in Washington, it is crucial
Review transition team budget preparations
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.
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
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Presidential Transition Timeline
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5 Things You Need to Know
5
Inside Hillary Clinton’s Transition Team
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Inside Donald Trump’s Transition Team
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2017 Presidential Transition Checklist
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2017PRESIDENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL THE PRESIDENTIAL THE CHECKLIST TRANSITION TIMELINE TRANSITION ROADMAP WHAT HAPPENS HAPPENS AFTER AFTER NOVEMBER NOVEMBER 8? 8? WHAT
The presidential transition process is a major undertaking. Transition
teams for majorEARLY candidate are NOVEMBER
responsible for the plan and prepare for their candidate to smoothly begin governance justPRE-THANKSGIVING a few short months after Election Day.
PRE-ELECTION TASKS:
Develop profiles of launched transition teams’ leadership • Agency review teams Outline major policy promises of presidential candidates Monitor early federal agency review plans • Top 50 Cabinet appointees selected • Key White House personnel selected
Begin shortlists of presidential appointment candidates
For many in Washington, it is crucial
NOVEMBER/ DECEMBER
to follow every step of the presidential transition from beginning to end. That’s why we’ve created the 2017 Presidential Transition Checklist to
LATE NOVEMBER help you track the major milestones of the transition process. Check off the box as you complete each task
DECEMBER
and you’ll be one-hundred percent prepared for Transition 2017.
EARLY JANUARY
JANUARY
Review transition team budget preparations • Policy implementation plan developed • Budget and management agenda established • Intended Cabinet agency appointments delivered to the Senate
POST-ELECTION TO INAUGURATION: • New member orientation begins
Compile President-elect’s agency review reports Update shortlists of presidential appointment candidates
• Lame-duck session begins
Expand summary of incoming administration’s policy priorities Enhance summary of new administration’s budget preparation
• New Congress sworn in • 115th Congress begins
• Agency review submitted THE FIRST 100reports DAYS:
• Briefing of incoming agency heads completed Profile incoming head of prepared each new federal agency • Cabinet orientation/retreat
Profile Key Cabinet and White House appointments
END OF APRIL
Track Senate-confirmation of remaining • Top 100 Senate-confirmed positions filled appointments Monitor early policy implementation and budget agenda
AUGUST
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• Remaining 300-400 presidential appointments filled
*Information from from the the Center Center for Presidential Transition andPOLITICO POLITICOwas wasused usedto tocreate createthis thistimeline. timeline. © for 2016 POLITICO Pro *Information Presidential Transition and
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2017 PRESIDENTIAL 5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW TRANSITION CHECKLIST TRANSITION ABOUT THE PRESIDENTIAL On Day, political pundits and all Americans TheInauguration presidential transition process witness theundertaking. peaceful transition of executive power to is a major Transition
The presidential transition process begins as early as
PRE-ELECTION TASKS: six months before Election Day and continues through
ateams new presidential administration. On television, Develop this the firstof100 days of ateams’ new presidency. The transition profiles transition leadership for major candidate are handoff appears effortless, a presidential transition formally begins when each party’s campaign establishes responsible for the plan andbut prepare
Outline major policy promises of presidential candidates
is culmination long series of events, many of its transition team to prepare their candidate to enter forthe their candidateoftoasmoothly begin Monitor early agency review plans which occur far the public spotlight. the federal White House in January. governance justbeyond a few short months after Election Day.
Begin shortlists of presidential appointment candidates Review transition team budget preparations
For many in Washington, it is crucial
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New laws have formalized the transition process.
to follow every step of the presidential transition from beginning to end.
Fears, especially post 9/11, that an inefficient transfer of executive power could leave the
That’s why we’ve created the 2017
POST-ELECTION TO INAUGURATION:
UnitedChecklist States vulnerable led Congress to establish two laws to formalize the presidential Presidential Transition to help you track the major milestones transition process.
Compile President-elect’s agency review reports
of the transition process. Check off
Update shortlists of presidential appointment candidates
the box as you complete each task
Pre-Election Presidential Transition Act Expand summaryPresidential Improvements and you’ll be one-hundred percent of incomingTransitions administration’s policy priorities of 2010: law directs prepared forThis Transition 2017.the General Services
Act (2015): This law directs the executive Enhance summary of new administration’s budget preparation
Administration to supply the major-party
branch to establish two panels, one for the
presidential candidates (and any “principal
White House and one for federal agencies,
contenders” from a third party) with office
that help to coordinate the transfer of power
space, equipment and administrative support within three business days of each party’s formal nomination.
to the next president. Each panel is required
THE FIRST 100 DAYS: by law to have a representative from each team. new federal agency Profile incomingtransition head of each
Profile Key Cabinet and White House appointments Senate-confirmation of remaining appointments The impact of these new laws Track has made the current presidential transition unique. For the first time, the opposing transition are working out of the and same governmentMonitor teams early policy implementation budget agenda appointed office building. This proximity has led the Clinton and Trump camps to overemphasize secrecy and discretion around sensitive information. © 2016 POLITICO Pro
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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.
Clinton Transition Chairman:
Trump Transition Chairman:
Ken Salazar, former Interior secretary
Chris Christie, New Jersey governor
Key Staff
Key Staff
• Tom Donilon, Obama’s former
• Bill Palatucci, Christie’s former law
national security adviser
partner and longtime political ally
• former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm • Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress
• the Rev. Leah Daughtry, a veteran
• Rich Bagger, Christie’s longtime political ally and former chief of staff
• Ed Meese, former attorney general and longtime aide to President Ronald
Democratic operative
Reagan
• Maggie Williams, a longtime Clinton
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• Eric Ueland, veteran Republican Capitol
ally and director of Harvard’s Institute
Hill aide and top staffer on the Senate
of Politics
Budget Committee
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 onequarter 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). © 2016 POLITICO Pro
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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.
Campaign promises:
Policy prioritization:
Budget Preparation:
A key task for transition teams
Next, each transition team will
Both transition teams must
is to catalog their respective
designate which policy items
outline a prepared budget,
candidate’s promises from the
to implement first. What each
which is due shortly after the
campaign trail. With a long,
camp determines to prioritize
Inauguration.
drawn-out campaign season,
will be a strong indication
this is not an easy task.
of what the new president’s administration will focus on in its first 100 days in office.
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.
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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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2017 PRESIDENTIAL INSIDE HILLARY CLINTON’S TRANSITION CHECKLIST TEAM PRE-ELECTION TASKS:
The presidential transition process Hillary Clinton has added to her transition team. is a major undertaking. The Rev. Leah Daughtry,Transition a seasoned Democratic teams for major candidate are potential WhiteDevelop profiles of transition teams’ leadership operative, will help staff Clinton’s House. Daughtry will help lead the transition responsible for the plan and prepare Outline major policy promises of presidential candidates operation’s personnel team, according to two for their candidate to smoothly begin sources familiar with the hire. Daughtry joins a Monitor early federal agency review plans governance just a few short months team of experienced campaign operatives, thinkafter Election Day. tankers, advisers and former elected officials, who, Begin shortlists of presidential appointment candidates like Daughtry, have had a longtime connection to Review transition team budget preparations Hillary Clinton and CapitolitHill. Clinton’s transition For many in Washington, is crucial team, based in Washington, DC, is responsible for to follow every step of the presidential drafting policy agendas and hiring thousands of transition end. administration staffers so from that abeginning potential to Clinton That’s we’ve created can hitwhy the ground runningthe on2017 Day One. The Clinton transition team, as of 29: Presidential Transition ChecklistSeptember to
POST-ELECTION TO INAUGURATION:
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.
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
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2017 PRESIDENTIAL INSIDE DONALD TRUMP’S TRANSITION CHECKLIST TEAM Donald Trump’s transition has added a number of policy and personnel experts over the past week and will The presidential transitionteam process likely continue adding many more in the weeks to come. Transition teams usually have more volunteers than paid is a major undertaking. Transition staff members and number in the hundreds by Election Day. Develop profiles of transition teams’ leadership teams for major candidate are
PRE-ELECTION TASKS:
responsible for the plan and prepare Until then, both transition teams will focus on for their candidate to smoothly begin developing a policy agenda, governance just a few short months identifying hires to fill a after Election Day. staff of about 4,000 in the executive branch and fundraising. far, Trump’sit is crucial For many in So Washington, transition team to follow every has stepadded of the presidential a number of experienced transition from beginning to end. policy experts, former That’s why we’ve created advisers and officials, and the 2017 Presidential Checklist to lobbyists, as Transition well as a mix of both and milestones help youconservative track the major establishment Republicans to off of the transition process. Check its roster. Trump’s transition the box as you complete each task team, as of Oct 1: and you’ll be one-hundred percent prepared for Transition 2017.
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
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© 2016 POLITICO Pro
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2017 PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION CHECKLIST The presidential transition process is a major undertaking. Transition
PRE-ELECTION TASKS:
teams for the major candidates are
Develop profiles of transition teams’ leadership
responsible for creating the plan
Outline major policy promises of presidential candidates
for their candidate to smoothly begin governance just a few short months
Monitor early federal agency review plans
after Election Day.
Begin shortlists of presidential appointment candidates
For many in Washington, it is crucial
Review transition team budget preparations
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.
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
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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.
Ben’s Chili Bowl Barack Obama visited this eatery in Washington’s Shaw neighborhood just 10 days before his inauguration in 2009.
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.
The Old Ebbitt Grill An American institution, it’s Washington’s oldest restaurant.
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DON’T MISS A BEAT AS THE 2017 TRANSITION UNFOLDS
S TAY A S TEP A HEA D WI TH
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