Much of the federal government’s work is carried out by dedicated career civil servants in federal agencies across the nation. Since these agencies implement the president’s policies and provide services to the American people, they play a vital role in transition planning. 

Federal agencies are required to designate a senior career executive and team members to oversee transition planning prior to a presidential election. They must gather information about agency operations and major pending issues for the incoming transition team or for new leaders of a second term administration; prepare for the departure of political appointees; and balance transition planning with the need to continue delivering on their mission. 

WHAT WE’RE DOING

The Center convenes career agency officials to share best practices and exchange ideas for effective transition planning. Our Agency Transition Guide is a “how to” resource based on the lessons learned from career executives who led previous agency transitions. The guide complements a full range of tools and templates to help agencies create briefing materials, engage new appointees from a new or second term administration, and accomplish other transition-related goals.