![handle is hein.crs/goveqhv0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service
Informing the IegisI9tive debate since 1914
August 12, 2024
Presidential Transitions: Facilities and Related Services
Provided by the General Services Administration
In order to minimize disruptions that might be occasioned
by ... transitions in the office of President, the Presidential
Transition Act of 1963 (PTA; P.L. 82-277), as amended,
authorizes the General Services Administration (GSA) to
assist in the transfer of executive power prior to and
following presidential elections. Consistent with its
function as the government's central property management
agency, GSA provides office space and related services
(i.e., telephones, information technology, furniture) to its
presidential transition customers, primarily:
* the eligible presidential candidates,
* the Presidential Transition Team (PTT),
* the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC), and
* the outgoing President and Vice President.
GSA has appointed a federal transition coordinator (FTC)
to oversee its efforts and facilitate communication with its
customers. The FTC begins working with GSA's customers
prior to the election and may continue to offer assistance
beyond the inauguration depending on the customers' needs
and circumstances. GSA also co-chairs the Agency
Transition Directors Council (ATDC), which coordinates
and directs transition efforts government-wide, and
establishes a Presidential Transition Directory (PTD) to
assist candidates with accessing transition resources. The
PTA requires GSA to enter into memoranda of
understanding with eligible candidates prior to the election
with regard to the provision of services and support
authorized by the act.
ET e Presidentia Candidates
According to GSA's May 2024 report on its presidential
transition activities-which is required by the PTA-GSA
will begin working with eligible candidates three business
days after their respective national conventions. Eligible
candidates, as defined by the Pre-Election Presidential
Transition Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-283), include the
nominees of each major party for President and Vice
President as well as any other candidates that the GSA
administrator determines is among the principle
contenders in a general election for those offices.
GSA received $10.4 million for its pre-election activities in
its FY2024 appropriation, which will be used to support an
estimated 100-120 members of each eligible candidate's
pre-election team. The teams will be located in space at
GSA's headquarters in Washington, D.C., and will be
furnished to the extent possible with excess property. GSA
is working with the Federal Protective Service (FPS), a
component of the Department of Homeland Security
(DHS), to ensure that building security requirements are
met. GSA estimates that the space will be available for
occupancy by August 27, 2024. Services are scheduled to
end on Election Day, November 5, 2024.
Pres dent- ect and Y ce-President ect
Following the election, GSA will support the PTT and PIC.
According to GSA, services will be become available
immediately after the election to a non-incumbent
candidate if all but that candidate has conceded, or
beginning five days after the election for a non-
incumbent candidate that has not conceded the
election and is still among the multiple possible
apparent successful candidates. Once [GSA]
determines that a candidate is no longer among the
multiple possible apparent successful candidates (or
that a different candidate should be treated as the
sole apparent successful candidate), GSA will
discontinue services to that unsuccessful candidate.
GSA has requested $11.2 million for post-election activities
in its FY2025 budget justification. Of that amount, $7.2
million would be used to support a new, incoming
Administration. Post-election funds would be managed by
GSA on behalf of the President-elect and Vice President-
elect for statutorily specified PTT and PIC activities,
including the compensation of transition staff, costs
associated with travel and communications services, and
printing and postage costs associated with the transition.
The Senate's FY2025 Financial Services and General
Government appropriations bill includes $19.4 million for
GSA's presidential transition activities, including $14.4
million to support a new, incoming Administration.
Pre dentia Transition Team
GSA plans to locate PTT staff and volunteers-which GSA
estimates could range from 500 to 700 people-in its
headquarters building. The U.S. Secret Service (USSS), a
component of DHS, will work with GSA to ensure that
appropriate credentialing and monitoring procedures are in
place before the PTT occupies the building. GSA notes that
space configuration and IT installation at the PTT site
should be complete by October 1, 2024, and the
construction required to meet USSS standards should be
finished by October 31, 2024. The earliest PTT could
occupy the building is the day after the election: November
6, 2024. GSA may provide services to the PTT for no
longer than 60 days after the date of the inauguration. Prior
to the Presidential Transition Enhancement Act of 2019
(P.L. 116-121), GSA could support the PTT for up to 180](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.crs/goveqhv0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)
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