Political Story

A Presidential Transition occurs during the time between a presidential candidate winning an election and the following inauguration ceremony, an event that is constitutionally mandated to be held on January 20^th following the November election every four years. A transition is usually run by that particular president-elect’s transition team, funded through a non-profit that operates separately from the campaign team and run by its own staff and budget.

The beginning of a transition signals the commencement of the intricate task of the president-elect assuming control of the administration of the federal government. During this time, the president-elect will focus on appointing his/her White House staff, run by a chief of staff and followed by the selection of key Cabinet posts.

Transition officials will scout out prospective ways a new president can transform promises made on the campaign trail into federal policy. This process usually begins with reversing executive actions set forth by the previous sitting president, as these actions usually yield a quicker completion time.

Each federal agency is observed so that policy can be understood, and staffing needs can be met. Key team members for the president-elect will often shadow outgoing staff to adequately prepare for new positions.

Transition planning can informally commence at any time, but an official transition begins when the results of an election are known and have been certified. In order to fully prepare for a transition of power, the Presidential Transition Act of 1963 allows the GSA (General Services Administration) to provide the president-elect’s team with office space and necessary equipment. Background checks are also provided by the government in order to begin installing security clearances for applicable staff members.

Transitions are carried by a combination of federal and private funds, with the administrator of the GSA holding legal authority to release over $6 million in federal funding to the president-elect’s transition team. The Federal Election Commission caps private donors and organizations funding to a $5,000 limit toward a candidate’s presidential transition. 

According to a New York Times report, the Biden campaign has raised nearly $7 million in private donations toward the benefit of his transition team.

General Services Administrator Emily Murphy is feeling the full weight of this year’s 2020 presidential election amidst the ongoing fight between the Trump and Biden campaign teams. Being the only government official that can sign off on the election results, President Trump’s reluctance to concede to Biden has thrown Murphy into the center of a political hell-storm.

Sources say that as she faces the overwhelming pressure from both sides, Murphy is continuing to work hard to analyze agency guidelines and follow precedents to wait or to sign off on the election. This process known as “ascertainment” would mark the beginning of an official transition of power between President Donald Trump and President-Elect Joe Biden.

According to an article published by CNN, the decision to wait on signing off has prompted the Biden Team to issue a warning regarding the consequences to national security and their response to Covid-19.

Young people in particular have become more involved in politics and this year’s election in particular than in past presidential races, and many students across the United States feel that the results will have big implications for the future of America.

When asked to give a statement on the presidential election and the ongoing transition process, Auburn University College Republicans and Democrats had two very different outlooks. One student with the Auburn College Republicans stated, “I think that the media called the election too early, there are some states that have not been certified yet, but I don’t blame Biden for assembling his transition team. I don’t think that the election can be called when there is evidence of fraud, I think it is important for these allegations to be investigated and to be proven without a doubt either way, so that the American people can have confidence in the election process whether or not the results of the lawsuits filed by President Trump overturn the election or not.”

The Auburn College Democrats disagreed. When asked to give an opinion on the reports of Trump blocking the Biden transition team from accessing pertinent information necessary for a transition of power, Vice President Calvin Wilson said, “I think it’s pathetic and he is just a sore loser quite frankly. I think there is no other way about it. There is no reason for him (Trump) to make things more difficult for the sake of his own ego.” Wilson also disagreed with the sentiment of the Auburn College Republicans regarding any present evidence supporting President Trump’s claims of fraud.

“There’s really no explanation and no evidence that they actually have for fraud, they believe themselves to be so superior and above democrats that they didn’t think that there was any way they could lose.” 

There are still cases and lawsuits being filed by the Trump administration to date, in an attempt to investigate activities at the polls and allegations of voter fraud. Some cases have already been thrown out while others are still open and pending.