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Presidential appointments are hard to track – and growing
Every new president faces the management challenge of filling out the leadership ranks of federal agencies with more than 4,000 presidential appointees. The most senior of those positions must go through an increasingly difficult and lengthy Senate confirmation process. While figuring out how many positions require Senate confirmation would seem to be straightforward, getting a…
What the 9/11 Commission Found: Slow Confirmations Imperil U.S. National Security
For senior officials, many of their records are permanently valuable and one day will be sent to the National Archives to help document the country’s history. As senior officials often enter and leave federal service during times of presidential transition, there are several things they should know to properly manage and preserve their records.
Federal pre-election transition resources for presidential candidates
While the presidential campaign is now dominating the public’s attention, a less well known but crucial operation is unfolding behind the scenes: preparations for a new presidential administration.
Doubt regarding a peaceful transfer of power following the presidential election has grown dramatically during the past year
However, the public overwhelmingly wants candidates to support the winner, regardless of party. The peaceful transfer of power had been a hallmark of American democracy since our country was founded. In 2021, the United States ultimately transitioned to a new president, although the difficult events that year challenged the confidence many people had in that…
How acting officials lead during presidential transitions
The time after a presidential election typically brings shifts in agency dynamics and personnel. Career civil servants must work to support the continuity of government while some senior career executives will be called on to serve temporarily in key leadership positions previously held by political appointees to ensure that agency priorities are met.
Ripe for Reform: Recommendations for a More Effective Senate Confirmation Process
During a recent hearing before the Senate Rules Committee, Jenny Mattingly, the Partnership’s vice president of government affairs, called for reform of the confirmation process to make it work better for all stakeholders.