Recently, Vice President Kamala Harris' transition team has come to an agreement with the General Services Administration to receive pre-election support from the federal government in anticipation of her potential presidency. This agreement, which includes provisions for office space, technology support, and other resources, was officially posted on the agency's website on Monday. The memorandum, signed on September 19, outlines guidelines related to IT, record-keeping, and ethics policies.
While the transition planning for Harris is progressing, there has been no confirmation yet on whether former President Donald Trump's team will also reach an agreement with the agency before Election Day. However, the General Services Administration has expressed readiness to provide services to the Trump transition team once an agreement is finalized and services are accepted.
Across the federal government, transition planning is in full swing in preparation for the potential handover of power on January 20, 2025, from President Joe Biden to either Trump or Harris. Last week, a meeting of the White House Transition Coordinating Committee, led by Chief of Staff Jeffrey Zients, included representatives from both Harris and Trump for the first time this year. Additionally, federal agencies are compiling detailed briefing memos on their operations to share with the incoming administration.
As part of the transition process, teams of federal agents and government workers, including individuals brought back from retirement, are on standby to vet numerous potential transition staff and administration appointees. The Presidential Transition Act mandates that nominees must establish a memorandum of understanding with the General Services Administration before gaining access to federal planning resources. This agreement also requires the transition teams to adhere to an ethics plan, disclose donors, and limit contributions to $5,000 to receive government funds.
In response to these developments, a senior advisor from the Trump campaign, Brian Hughes, stated that the Trump-Vance Transition team is actively assessing and engaging with the General Services Administration regarding the support options available to them.
