2000 White House Memo on Presidential Transition Guidance

Memorandum from White House Chief of Staff John Podesta to heads of executive departments and agencies regarding presidential transition guidance during the election recount in Florida.

November 13, 2000

Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies

From: John Podesta, Chief of Staff

Subject: Presidential Transition Guidance

A number of agencies have raised questions about how they should handle requests for assistance or information by members of a Presidential Transition team. Because of the uncertainty over election results, no President-elect has been identified to receive Federal funds and assistance under the Presidential Transition Act of 1963. Until a President-elect is clearly identified, therefore, no transition assistance as contemplated under the Transition Act is available. You may continue to provide the kind of information or assistance, if any, that you typically provide to presidential candidates, and should continue to prepare for the Transition so that we are able to provide full assistance quickly to the Office of the President-elect.

Please contact Maria Echaveste, Deputy Chief of Staff, or Thurgood Marshall, Jr., Assistant to the President for Cabinet Affairs, with any questions.

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