Our role in presidential transitions

The transfer of power from one Administration to the next marks a significant moment in U.S. history. Since 1963, the U.S. General Services Administration has held a prominent role in the peaceful transition of authority between the incoming and outgoing Administrations in accordance with the Presidential Transition Act of 1963, as amended. As transition-focused legislation has been amended to improve the presidential transition process, GSA’s role has grown and evolved. During a Presidential transition, GSA provides support to eligible candidates, Inter-agency Transition teams, the Presidential Inauguration effort, and the outgoing President and Vice-President. Support for the outgoing President and Vice-President are only provided in the event of a change of Administration. Additionally, the Act requires regular reporting to Congress on the status of transition planning. These reports can be found at gsa.gov/presidentialtransition.

Support to the Eligible Candidates

GSA provides, upon request, pre- and post-election services and facilities to each eligible candidate for use in preparing to assume their official duties. Those services and facilities include suitable office space appropriately equipped with furniture, furnishings, office and IT equipment, and incidental office supplies. Per the Presidential Transition Act, pre-election services are offered to the eligible candidate teams within three business days after the last nominating convention, and become available after the eligible candidate transition teams and GSA have fully executed a Memorandum of Understanding outlining the terms and conditions of all GSA space and service offerings (per the Act, eligible candidates include the two major party candidates).

GSA also provides, upon request, post-election services and facilities to eligible candidates for use in preparing to assume their official duties. Those services and facilities include: suitable office space appropriately equipped with furniture, furnishings, office and IT equipment, office supplies, fleet vehicles, and mail management; payment of compensation for office staffs; payment of expenses for the procurement of experts or consultants and communication services; and payment of travel, subsistence, printing, postal, and other expenses as necessary and appropriate.

Outside of GSA’s role and per the Presidential Transition Act, access to agency personnel, facilities, and briefing materials is governed by a separate memorandum of understanding between the current Presidential administration and the transition representative of eligible candidates.

Support for Inter-agency Transition

GSA, through the Federal Transition Coordinator, ensures that the Federal Government has an integrated strategy to prepare for Presidential transitions and turnover of non-career appointees. Guidance is provided to agencies in gathering briefing materials and information relating to the Presidential transition that may be requested by eligible candidates as well as on succession planning. Inter-agency coordination is facilitated through the Agency Transition Directors Council, which the Federal Transition Coordinator co-chairs.

Support to the Outgoing President and Vice-President

GSA provides, upon request, services and facilities in support of the transition of each outgoing President and Vice-President. Those services and facilities include space, communication systems, IT support, financial management, human resources management, telephones, furniture, vehicles, office equipment, mail management, and administrative support services (such as payroll, financial services, and contracting). GSA also works with the National Archives and Records Administration as necessary, to provide support to the former Presidents in the establishment and maintenance of their libraries. These services are only provided in the event of a change of Administration.

Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022 (2022)

The Presidential Transition Improvement Act (P.L. 117-328) updated the framework for providing eligible candidates with timely access to transition services and discontinued the previous process of ascertainment. Under the new law, post-election transition services begin immediately after a concession. Absent a concession within 5 days of the election, services begin automatically for all remaining eligible candidates – and will conclude for all but one apparent successful candidate when Congressionally-established factors are met.

As a result of this change, an affirmative “ascertainment” by GSA is no longer a prerequisite for gaining transition support services.

For the full language of the law, see the Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022, which was passed as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-328).