1. Presidential Transitions
GSA’s Roles and Responsibilities
Presented by: Tim Horne
GSA Acting Administrator
2016 Federal Transition Coordinator

2. Presidential Transitions – By the Numbers
More than 2,000 non-civilian executive branch employees1
More than 4,000 political appointees2
1,212 Presidential appointments with Senate confirmation2
680 non-career members of the SES2
1,403 Schedule C appointees2 1 2

3. Evolution of Presidential Transitions
1963
2016
1988
2000
2010
2015
Richard Nixon's staff moves furniture and materials into the Oval Office on January 20, 1969, as the Nixon administration takes office. (Nixon Library)

4. GSA’s Role in Presidential Transitions
GSA has six primary roles:
Provide support to eligible candidates
Provide support to President-elect and Vice President-elect
Provide support to interagency transition
Provide support for Presidential Inauguration
Transition directory and appointment orientation
Provide support to outgoing President and former presidents

5. GSA’s Role in Presidential Transitions
GSA Administrator:
Authorized to provide, upon request, services and facilities to the eligible candidates and the President-elect and Vice President-elect
Designates a senior career employee at GSA to serve as the Federal Transition Coordinator
Ascertains the apparent successful candidates of the Offices of President and Vice President
Serves as a member of the White House Coordinating Council

6. GSA’s Role in Presidential Transitions
Federal Transition Coordinator:
Carries out the duties and authorities of GSA relating to Presidential transitions
Coordinates transition planning across agencies
Serves as a Co-Chair on the Agency Transition Directors Council (ATDC)
Ensures agencies comply with all statutory requirements relating to Presidential transitions
Serves as a Member on the White House Transition Coordinating Council (WHTCC)

7. GSA’s Role in Presidential Transitions
1. Provide Support to Eligible Candidates 2

8. GSA’s Role in Presidential Transitions
2. Provide support to President-elect and Vice President-elect

9. GSA’s Role in Presidential Transitions
3. Provide Support to Interagency Transition

10. GSA’s Role in Presidential Transitions
4. Provide Support for the Presidential Inauguration

11. GSA’s Role in Presidential Transitions
5. Transition Directory and Appointee Orientation  
Money set aside in GSA’s budget to train new appointees

12. GSA’s Role in Presidential Transitions
6. Provide Support to Outgoing President and Former Presidents

13. GSA’s Role in Presidential Transitions
Leadership Lessons:
Every transition takes on its own personality
Never have enough information
Best people working on it - highest performing and proactive
It’s not about us - it’s about THEM
It’s the President of the United States

14. Questions