Senior officials from President-elect Donald Trump's administration, along with the majority of his designated Cabinet nominees, participated in a transition exercise at the White House hosted by President Joe Biden's team. The exercise, chaired by Homeland Security Adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall in the White House Situation Room, focused on rehearsing responses to national security crises, a practice that has been crucial in presidential transitions since the September 11, 2001, attacks.
The tabletop exercise included discussions on managing potential terror attacks and an avian flu outbreak, among other challenges. These exercises have sometimes foreshadowed real events, as seen in the 2016-17 transition when a simulation discussed the U.S. response to a global public health event, which later proved relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key attendees at the exercise included Trump's picks for secretary of state, director of national intelligence, defense secretary, and homeland security secretary, among others. Biden's outgoing Cabinet members, such as Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Attorney General Merrick Garland, also participated in the session.
The Biden team has been emphasizing cooperation with Trump's transition effort, responding to information requests and sharing briefings on critical issues. This exercise followed a previous tabletop session in November with senior government staffers to prepare for supporting the incoming administration.
Overall, the exercise aimed to ensure a smooth transition of power and readiness to address pressing national security and crisis management challenges as the new administration takes office.
It is notable that the exercise took place just hours after the U.S. helped broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, underscoring the importance of effective crisis response and coordination at the highest levels of government.
These transition exercises serve as a vital component of the peaceful transfer of power in the United States, allowing incoming and outgoing administrations to collaborate and prepare for the complex responsibilities of governing the nation.
