Presidential Transitions: Challenges and Strategies

This chapter examines the hurdles new presidents encounter when staffing their administrations, particularly the loss of institutional knowledge from outgoing teams. It highlights the importance of maintaining communication between incoming and outgoing leaders to ensure a smooth transition, as well as the roles of political appointees versus career civil servants. The discussion also addresses the implications of short transition periods and the need for concise briefings on national security and foreign policy to navigate immediate challenges effectively.