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 plays a central leadership role during each presidential transition. It provides support to eligible candidates, interagency transition teams, the presidential inauguration and the outgoing needs of the president and vice-president. Central to this process is the federal transition coordinator who coordinates transition planning across agencies and serves as the primary liaison with the candidates’ teams. 

The transition coordinator also reports regularly to Congress on the status of transition planning at six and three months out from the election (see here). In addition, the GSA prepares the Presidential Transition Directory that provides key information about the federal government’s structure and policies related to presidential transitions. The directory includes contributions from other agencies, such as the Office of Government Ethics and the Office of Personnel Management. 

Department of Justice  

DOJ serves as the lead authority on granting security clearances for transition members of major party candidates. The FBI conducts background investigations prior to the election for transition team members who will need access to classified information post-election. All personnel seeking clearance must complete the SF-86 form, which the FBI reviews on an expedited basis for interim-level clearances. If transition team members from the successful candidate’s team are later nominated for positions requiring clearance, a more comprehensive investigation will be conducted post-election to grant permanent clearances. 

While the FBI handles investigations, the DOJ’s Security Emergency and Planning Staff adjudicates clearance decisions. During the transition, the DOJ maintains a list of transition team members with interim clearances and shares it with each agency’s transition director and security team, ensuring that only those with proper clearance can access classified information. 

Office of Government Ethics  

Ethics and transparency are core components of the presidential transition, and OGE guides incoming and outgoing officials through the complexities of ethics compliance. One of its key responsibilities is to review and approve Form 278e, a public financial disclosure form, which most nominees are required to submit before assuming office. This review helps incoming appointees resolve potential conflicts of interest before they take office. 

For outgoing officials, OGE provides ethics guidance to help them navigate post-government employment restrictions. It also publishes a Presidential Transition Guide in the late autumn to assist nominees by outlining the nomination process, offering tips for completing financial disclosure reports and providing important details about government ethics considerations.  

To further support the transition process, OGE may deploy ethics officers directly to transition team sites to assist with completing and reviewing disclosure forms. OGE also manages the INTEGRITY system, an online tool that tracks and reviews financial disclosures, streamlining the process for both appointees and ethics officers. 

Office of Personnel Management  

OPM supports the federal government and transition teams by offering data and guidance on personnel matters. Within 15 days of their formal party nominations, OPM provides each party’s national committee with a detailed list of all politically appointed/Senate-confirmed positions, enabling the incoming administration to begin selecting individuals for key roles. OPM also prepares the Plum Book, historically published every four years shortly after the election. The Plum Book lists high-level executive, political and policymaking positions across the government. 

Under new legislation passed in 2023, OPM will begin for the first time replacing the Plum Book with data on a public-facing website containing regularly updated information on high-ranking personnel in every administration. This will provide more up-to-date information on the leadership and organization of federal agencies, including an administration’s top leaders and placement of political appointees, along with many positions filled by senior career officials in the civil service. After the 2024 election, the Plum Book will be replaced entirely with the web-based database. 

OPM also publishes a transition guide which includes guidance for an incoming team as they navigate the complexities of federal employment—from pay scales to benefits—ensuring informed decisions when filling critical positions.  

National Archives and Records Administration  

Federal agency documents—ranging from notes to memos and even text messages—are part of the public record. NARA ensures these records are preserved and protected. It collaborates with agencies and the White House to archive materials from the outgoing administration and trains the incoming team on proper records management throughout their term. At the end of each presidency, NARA takes custody of the outgoing administration’s records, both physical and digital, preserving them for historical, legal and public use. This work upholds transparency and accountability in our government. 

Alex Claycomb is a former fellow with the Center for Presidential Transition®