Resources for Federal Transition Leaders
Federal agency personnel responsible for planning and executing transition activities play a pivotal role in the peaceful transfer of power. The Center for Presidential Transition® has compiled resources to help transition leaders carry out their duties, comply with governing statues and prepare a new or second-term administration to govern effectively on day one.
Presidential Transition Landscape and Milestones
White House Guidance to Agencies
This is a memorandum to agency transition directors and agency points of contact on transition from Anita Breckenridge, deputy chief of staff at the White House, Andrew Mayock, deputy director for management at OMB and Tim Horne, federal transition coordinator at GSA. The memo, released on Sept. 14, 2016, provides guidance on presidential transition preparations, including off-boarding non-career employees, succession planning, engagement with transition teams pre-election, and agency briefing materials, agency review team preparations.
OMB Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies
Memo from Acting Office of Management and Budget Director, Russell Vought, to agency heads with guidance on presidential transition preparations and implementing the Presidential Transition Act dated April 4, 2020. This memo includes guidance on the timetable of agency actions, including which agencies will participate in the Agency Transition Directors Council (ATDC) and other agencies who will name a transition point of contact.
Transition and Agency Directors Coordinating Councils
Infographic that outlines the responsibilities and membership of the White House Transition Coordinating Council and the Agency Transition Directors Council.
Agency Briefing Guides and Templates
Agency Transition Guide
A Guide for Chief Human Capital Officers: Supporting New Appointees
This guide and checklist outlines leading practices and key actions CHCOs can take to build effective relationships with new appointees during their first weeks and throughout the onboarding process to position them as a trusted advisor. It includes insights and advice from current and former CHCOs, appointees and other federal leaders.
Agency Briefing Material Bureau/Component Executive Summary Template
A template to be used by agencies to source and organize the information they receive from employees to create the high-level overview of a bureau or component within the agency to develop briefing materials for the incoming administration.
Agency Briefing Book Sample Table of Contents
This template provides agency transition leaders a table of contents and structure for the briefing materials they will prepare to brief the incoming administration about their agency. This format was developed based on interviews with prior incoming administration leaders, agency transition leads and OMB to maximize the effectiveness of the agency briefings.
Agency Briefing Material Deep-dive Template
This template for agencies can help them source and organize the information they receive from employees to create a deep-dive report on a topic or issue. The template may be used to provide a more detailed explanation of any component in an executive summary, or may be used to create separate policy-item, budget-item, management issue, or other specific item reports. The data collected can be used to inform the briefing materials for the incoming administration team.
Agency Briefing Material Office/Region Executive Summary Template
This template will help agencies create an office/region’s executive overview in preparation for the presidential transition. The information provided will be incorporated into final briefing materials for incoming administration leadership. It is designed to work with the “Agency Briefing Material Deep-dive Template,” for issues that require additional explanation.
Do you need transition planning assistance?
The Center can provide critical assistance on how to organize and execute a transition; help agency career executives prepare for new political leadership; offer guidance to political appointees on the unique aspects of government leadership; and engage with Congress to promote transition reforms. In addition, the Center can offer insights to help incumbent presidents prepare for a second term and advise on the steps needed for a smooth transfer of power in the event that a new president is elected.