Presidential Transitions

Publication Date: June 2006

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Government

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Abstract:

Since President George Washington first relinquished his office to incoming President John Adams in 1797, this peaceful transition, symbolizing both continuity and change, has demonstrated the stability of our system of government. Aside from the symbolic transfer of power, an orderly transition from the outgoing Administration to the incoming Administration is essential to ensure continuity in the working affairs of government. Necessary funding for both the incoming and outgoing Administrations is authorized by the Presidential Transition Act, as amended. The General Services Administration (GSA) is authorized to provide suitable office space, staff compensation, communications services, and printing and postage costs associated with the transition. For the most recent presidential transition, GSA was authorized a total of $7.1 million in FY2001: $1.83 million for the outgoing William Clinton Administration; $4.27 million for the incoming Administration of George W. Bush; and $1 million for GSA to provide additional assistance as required by law.

In order to provide federal funding in the event of a 2004-2005 presidential transition, the President's FY2005 budget proposal requested a total of $7.7 million. It also proposed to amend the PTA to permit the expenditure of not more than $1 million for training and briefings for incoming appointees associated with the second term of an incumbent President. The House passed H.R. 5025, the FY2005 Transportation, Treasury, and Independent Agencies appropriations bill, on September 22, 2004. The legislation recommended for GSA a total of $7.7 million for transition expenses, and recommended that, if no transition occurred, $1 million be used by the incumbent President for briefings of incoming personnel associated with a second term. In the Senate, S. 2806 also recommended a total of $7.7 million to implement a possible transition. However, the Senate Committee on Appropriations denied the request to allow $1 million for training for incoming appointees associated with the second term of an incumbent President, stating that "it should be properly budgeted for and requested by the appropriate agencies." P.L. 108-309 was enacted on September 30, 2004, to provide continuing non-defense appropriations through November 20, 2004. A total of $2.5 million was authorized in the event of a presidential transition, until enactment of the FY2005 omnibus appropriations bill. Due to the outcome of the 2004 presidential election, no funds were provided in P.L. 108-447, the FY2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act.

Part I of this report discusses legislative actions to enhance the transition process, each transition since 1960, and general considerations for the presidential transition process. Part II contains the text of the major transition statutes. This report will be updated to reflect changes in benefits or funding.