Lawfare Daily: National Security and the 2024 Election, Presidential Transitions
Nov 2, 2024
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Elaine Kamarck, a Senior Fellow at Brookings with expertise in presidential transitions, and Katie Tenpas, a Visiting Fellow and director of the Katzmann Initiative, discuss the critical nature of smooth presidential transitions. They examine historical challenges, especially from the contentious 2020 election, and highlight new legal reforms to improve the process. The conversation also touches on how national security considerations intertwine with upcoming political shifts, stressing the significance of well-prepared leadership in turbulent times.
The presidential transition process is crucial for governance continuity, requiring detailed planning and coordination to prevent disruptions.
Historical analysis shows that effective cooperation between outgoing and incoming administrations mitigates risks, especially in national security and foreign relations.
Preparation for the 2024 election transitions must prioritize structured frameworks, learned from past successes and failures, to ensure efficiency.
Deep dives
Upcoming Presidential Transition Process
The podcast discusses the critical elements of the presidential transition process, emphasizing the significance of a well-structured transition between administrations. A historical look at past transitions reveals that they often involve meticulous planning and coordination to ensure continuity of governance. The structural framework has evolved to include formalized procedures and resource allocations intended to facilitate effective leadership change. With the upcoming 2024 election, both major party candidates are already preparing their transition teams, highlighting the urgency of establishing operational readiness for the task ahead.
Changes in Transition Protocols
An analysis of the transition protocols since 2000 reveals substantial changes designed to streamline processes and enhance cooperation between outgoing and incoming administrations. Legislative adjustments have been made to ensure that won elections lead to prompt recognition and resource access for the president-elect. Previous challenges, such as the tumultuous transition in 2000 and the refusal of the Trump administration to cooperate in 2020, underscore the need for clear statutory guidance. The ongoing improvements aim to prevent obstructions in the transition process, thereby reducing potential bureaucratic bottlenecks.
Impact of Personal Relationships on Transitions
The significance of personal relationships and informal networks during the transition period is examined, especially regarding how past administrations managed their transitions. Cooperation, as demonstrated in the Obama-Bush transition, typically leads to smoother shifts in power and better access to crucial information. Conversely, challenges arise when these relationships are strained or when significant ideological differences exist, as seen in the Trump administration. Future transitions may rely on the effectiveness of personal connections to navigate any potential coordination issues between parties.
Consequences of a Chaotic Transition
A disorganized transition can lead to dire consequences, particularly in national security and foreign relations, as the podcast illustrates. The lack of cooperation from the outgoing administration, especially if incoming officials are not adequately briefed, heightens national risk during the critical period before inauguration. Furthermore, the potential appointment of individuals without comprehensive vetting raises alarm bells regarding the integrity of incoming leadership. The discussion emphasizes that a chaotic transition may undermine essential trust within government agencies and with international partners.
Expectations for the 2024 Election and Transition
Looking ahead to the 2024 election, expectations around transitions are shaped by previous experiences and the political climate. The impending election generates a sense of urgency for both candidates to prepare adequately, emphasizing the importance of creating solid transition frameworks. Past failures and successes in transition protocols serve as lessons, highlighting the necessity of understanding nuances to ensure a smooth process. Ultimately, the political landscape and prevailing sentiments among the electorate will dictate how well the transition unfolds after the election.
This episode of “Lawfare Live: National Security and the 2024 Election,” was recorded on October 29 in front of a live audience on YouTube and Zoom. Lawfare Editor-in-Chief Benjamin Wittes spoke to Lawfare Senior Editor Scott R. Anderson, Senior Fellow in Governance Studies at Brookings Elaine Kamarck, Visiting Fellow at Brookings and director of the Katzmann Initiative Katie Tenpas, and Lawfare Executive Editor Natalie Orpett about what occurs during a presidential transition, what went wrong in 2020, and how Harris and Trump have begun to prepare for the transition.
