Planning for potential presidential transition underway as Biden administration begins

WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden’s administration on Friday formally began planning a potential presidential transition, aimed at ensuring continuity of government no matter the outcome of the November general election.

Shalanda Young, director of the Office of Management and Budget, sent a memo to all executive departments and agencies directing them to name a point person for transition planning by May 3. This is a routine first step in Congress-mandated preparations for a presidential transition.

Next week, White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients — who also chaired Biden’s 2020 transition effort — will lead the first meeting of the White House Transition Coordinating Council, which will include senior White House policy, national security and management officials as needed . Presidential Change Act.

This act provides federal assistance to major party candidates to prepare to govern so that they have the staff to take policy action on their first day in office. Ensuring that presidential candidates are prepared to take charge of the federal government has become a higher priority following the September 11 attacks, and the Act has been updated several times to provide additional resources to candidates and incumbents. Even a handoff needs to be planned. More intensity.

Young’s letter is nearly identical to one sent four years ago by Trump administration acting director Russell Vought, leading to a transition process that began orderly but was derailed when then-President Donald Trump asked Biden to resign. Refused to accept defeat. Two weeks after the election was called, it took until November 23 for Trump’s General Services Administration to declare Biden the “clear winner” of the 2020 race – a necessary step to begin the transition.

The law requires presidential candidates and the General Services Administration to reach a memorandum of understanding by September 1 that governs everything from the provision of federal office space to access to sensitive documents, though it is often reached sooner. Is. Before signing the MOU, candidates must formally secure their party’s nomination at their conventions.

Transition teams begin vetting candidates for jobs in the future administration, including beginning the time-consuming security clearance process for potential appointees who need to be ready to take up their positions on Inauguration Day.

The sharply critical report from the Justice Department special counsel said that after he left the vice presidency, Biden launched a separate task force in February aimed at addressing the mishandling of classified information during the presidential transition. The “systemic” problem had to be addressed. 2016.

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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – The Associated Press)