Biden–Harris transition

Biden–Harris transition
Name	Biden–Harris transition
Date	November 7, 2020 – January 20, 2021
Leader	Joe Biden, Kamala Harris
Predecessor	Trump transition
Successor	Trump–Biden transition (2024)

Biden–Harris transition The Biden–Harris transition was the post-election process that prepared Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to assume the offices of President of the United States and Vice President of the United States. Conducted after the 2020 United States presidential election, the transition coordinated with agencies including the General Services Administration, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Health and Human Services to enable a transfer of executive power during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and amid disputes involving Donald Trump, the Republican Party, and litigation in multiple state and federal courts such as the Supreme Court of the United States. The transition overlapped with responses to crises involving the U.S. Capitol security concerns and international matters including relations with China, Russia, Iran, and allies in NATO.

Background and election results

Following vote counts in battleground states including Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, and Arizona, major media outlets and the Associated Press projected victory for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on November 7, 2020. The result reflected shifts in suburban precincts influenced by issues tied to the COVID-19 pandemic, the stimulus negotiations in the United States Congress, and debates over policing after incidents involving Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. Electoral procedures invoked the Electoral College and certifications by secretaries of state such as Brad Raffensperger and Katie Hobbs, while election litigation proceeded in forums including the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The contest precipitated involvement from legal teams associated with Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, and John Eastman challenging results in state courts and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Transition planning and personnel

The transition organization, led by campaign veterans and policy advisors, drew staff from think tanks like the Brookings Institution and Center for American Progress, as well as former administration officials from the Obama administration such as Rahm Emanuel, Denis McDonough, and Valerie Jarrett advisors. Senior personnel included a chief of staff and agency transition leads coordinating with career officials in the Office of Management and Budget, the National Security Council, and the Office of Personnel Management. The team worked with counsel experienced in statutes such as the Presidential Transition Act of 1963 and interacted with the General Services Administration administrator Emily Murphy regarding ascertainment and resources. External liaisons included representatives from Ready for Hillary-era networks and allies in the Democratic National Committee and state party structures.

Policy priorities and briefings

Policy planning focused on pandemic response measures involving Anthony Fauci and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, economic relief linked to negotiations with congressional leaders such as Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell, and climate actions referencing the Paris Agreement and coordination with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The transition compiled briefings on national security with input from former officials associated with Central Intelligence Agency directors and the Department of State, addressing actions toward China trade policy, Russia sanctions, and diplomacy with Saudi Arabia and Israel. Health policy coordination included vaccine distribution strategies involving Pfizer–BioNTech and Moderna partnerships and discussions with regulators such as the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Administrative and legal challenges

Ascertainment and funding disputes with the General Services Administration delayed access to office space and federal intelligence briefings, prompting litigation risks and media coverage by outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post. Legal actions and recounts in Georgia and certification challenges invoked officials including Brian Kemp and Doug Ducey, and appeals reached state supreme courts such as the Georgia Supreme Court. The transition navigated the Presidential Transition Act of 1963 timelines while coordinating with the Office of Legal Counsel and counsel experienced in the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 concerning temporary leadership in agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice.

Public communications and outreach

Communications strategies employed rapid response teams engaging with media outlets including CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and print outlets such as The Wall Street Journal and Politico. Outreach included targeted messages to constituencies represented by leaders like Stacey Abrams, AOC (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez), and labor unions including the AFL–CIO and Teamsters, as well as advocacy groups such as Planned Parenthood and NAACP. The transition used briefings and events coordinated with state governors including Gretchen Whitmer and Andrew Cuomo and leveraged social platforms operated by staffers familiar with campaigns like Obama 2012 to communicate priorities on vaccination, stimulus measures, and judicial nominations.

Notable appointments and nominations

The incoming administration announced nominees and appointees drawn from a mix of Senate-confirmed veterans and public officials, including selections for cabinet posts with ties to Barack Obama staff such as Antony Blinken for Secretary of State, Lloyd Austin for Secretary of Defense, Janet Yellen for Secretary of the Treasury, and Deb Haaland for Secretary of the Interior. Judicial vetting engaged senators including Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell amid discussions over the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings for nominees connected to institutions like Harvard Law School and Yale Law School. Appointments reflected diversity milestones, including firsts related to representatives like Kamala Harris allies and leaders from constituencies represented by Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and Deb Haaland herself.

Handover and inaugural preparations

Final transition activities coordinated with the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, the United States Capitol Police, and the District of Columbia National Guard to prepare for the 2021 United States presidential inauguration on January 20, 2021. Security planning responded to events tied to the January 6 United States Capitol attack and incorporated briefings from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security concerning threats. Logistical arrangements involved the United States Secret Service, the National Park Service, and protocols for executive orders and memoranda to be signed by Joe Biden on his first day in office, concluding the transition and initiating the administration's governance activities.

Category:Presidency of Joe Biden