This report is the third in the Center’s series of reports that highlights challenges with the Senate confirmation process and categories of positions that should be considered for the removal of Senate confirmation. The report focuses on Senate-confirmed positions that have been persistently vacant since the beginning of the Obama administration.

New data from the Center for Presidential Transition® shows that when there are multiple levels of political appointments requiring Senate confirmation that report to one another, it takes longer to confirm appointees each layer you go down.

Data from the Center for Presidential Transition compares nominations and Senate confirmations from the most recent four presidents during their first three years in office.

The large number of political appointments requiring Senate confirmation needs urgent review, and that review should include part-time positions to federal boards and commissions.

The Center for Presidential Transition’s comprehensive guide on the activities required during the transition. This guide for the 2024 presidential election cycle was produced in collaboration with the Boston Consulting Group. It features detailed outlines of transition best practices, historical materials from past transitions, and recommendations for a successful presidential transition to a new or second-term administration.