Special Reports
The Presidential Transition
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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. |
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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
- Report provides roadmap for first Homeland Security transition (06/27/08)
Leadership transfer could present an opportunity for terrorists to take advantage of perceived vulnerabilities in national security. - Acting GSA chief expects smooth transition to new administrator (06/27/08)
David Bibb plans September exit; he'll be succeeded by Jim Williams, an experienced GSA hand. - Incoming president will face key deadlines for Homeland Security programs (06/17/08)
Some of the deadlines have been imposed by Congress, while others were put in place by the current department leadership team. - FAA blasted for handling of controller losses (06/12/08)
Official notes that the agency has lost 954 experienced controllers since last October. - Cooperative purchasing bill close to becoming law (06/11/08)
Senate approves measure to open GSA's law enforcement and security-based Schedule 84 to state and local governments. - Gates begins wartime transition to new leadership (06/10/08)
Getting key officials into Pentagon jobs early in the new administration will be more important than it has been in decades. - Gates offers Bush new Air Force leadership team (06/09/08)
Gen. Norton Schwartz, a 35-year veteran with a background in Air Force special operations, is Defense secretary's pick as chief of staff. - Research group predicts moderate growth in IT spending during next five years (06/02/08)
Uncertain economy, new administration may temper technology spending. - Lawmakers discuss expanding locality pay to areas covered by COLAs (05/30/08)
Senators and federal employee groups cite need to keep retirement payments competitive, improve recruiting. - Homeland Security avoids subpoena by turning over documents (05/28/08)
Congressional aides said the department turned over more than 300 documents, including a list of career civil servants who will manage the presidential transition. - Bill would give National Archives greater reach in electronic records management (05/16/08)
Archivists however worry about becoming pariahs if presidents see them as internal-affairs investigators. - Performance management likely will get a makeover in the next administration (05/13/08)
Less subjective decision-making and greater focus on measuring results will be key ingredients for success, say those outside government. - 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.
