What is the presidential transition period?
The presidential transition is the period between Election Day (November 7, 2028) and Inauguration Day (January 20, 2029) during which the incoming president prepares to take power.
The presidential transition is an approximately 11-week period between Election Day and Inauguration Day. During this time, the president-elect forms a government - identifying and vetting cabinet nominees, hiring senior White House staff, preparing executive orders and policy priorities, and receiving intelligence briefings from the outgoing administration.
The Presidential Transition Act (1963, amended multiple times) provides federal resources and support for transitions. The General Services Administration provides office space, staff support, and funding. The outgoing administration is required to cooperate with and support the incoming team.
For 2028, the transition period runs from November 7, 2028 through January 20, 2029. If the election result is contested and not resolved for weeks (as in 2000), the effective transition period can be compressed, which creates real national-security and governing risks.
The 20th Amendment, which moved Inauguration Day from March to January 20, was designed in part to shorten the 'lame duck' period of the outgoing administration. Even so, nearly three months is a substantial gap during which the country has two competing power centers.
Related questions
Does the outgoing president retain full power during the transition?
What if the election result is disputed?
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Related explainers
The 2028 presidential inauguration is January 20, 2029. The 20th Amendment fixed this date, and the winner of the November 2028 election will be sworn in as the 48th President.
The 2028 U.S. presidential election will be held on Tuesday, November 7, 2028. By law, Election Day falls on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
After Election Day, states certify results, electors meet in December to cast official votes, Congress counts the votes in January, and the winner is inaugurated on January 20.
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