What is the presidential transition period?

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.