Overview
Changes in the law of presidential transitions since 2015 have encouraged candidates and potential appointees to begin planning early. The recently enacted Presidential Transition Enhancement Act contains additional incentives. Good-government organizations, such as the Partnership for Public Service, have created resources as part of robust presidential transition projects. As a veteran of one of the presidential efforts in 2008, working on vice presidential vetting efforts for one of the campaigns and another in 2016, when we aided the Partnership in its assistance to transition teams of both parties, the benefits of preparing early are clear. For individuals who have hopes of serving in a future administration, in order to avoid possible disappointment during the transition, it is necessary to prepare soon. Those individuals should create a "shadow" vetting file, including paperwork (draft security clearance questionnaire, financial disclosure records, a completed questionnaire for the relevant Senate committee) and backup materials (tax returns, publications, campaign contributions). Somebody who has already been "pre-vetted" will always have an advantage once a transition begins operating in earnest.
