President-elect Donald Trump now has a 75-day transition period to build out his team before Inauguration Day arrives on Jan. 20. His team has pledged that the second won’t look much like the first one Trump established after his 2016 victory.
One top item on the to-do list: filling around 4,000 government positions with political appointees, people who are specifically tapped for their jobs by Trump’s team.
That includes everyone from the secretary of state and other heads of Cabinet departments to those selected to serve part time on boards and commissions. Around 1,200 of those presidential appointments require Senate confirmation, which should be easier with the Senate now shifting to Republican control.
Here’s what to expect:
What Will the Transition Look Like?
Trump built an entirely new administration for his first term and has definite ideas on what to do differently this time.
He’s already floated some names.
Trump said at his victory party early Wednesday that former presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. will be tapped to “help make America healthy again,” adding that “we’re going to let him go to it.” Ahead of the election, Trump didn’t reject Kennedy’s calls to end fluoridated water. Trump has also pledged to make Elon Musk a secretary of federal “cost-cutting,” and the Tesla CEO has suggested he can find trillions of dollars in government spending to wipe out.
The transition is not just about filling jobs. Most presidents-elect also receive daily or near-daily intelligence briefings during the transition.
Who Is Helping Trump through the Process?
Trump’s transition is being spearheaded by close allies, including Kennedy Jr. and former Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard, as well as the president-elect’s adult sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, and his running mate, JD Vance. Transition co-chairs are Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick and Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term.
Biden Promises Peaceful Transition
President Joe Biden delivered remarks to the nation Thursday in what was his first appearance on camera following Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris.
“In a democracy, the will of the people always prevails,” he said near the beginning.
Biden said he had spoken with Trump and assured him that he would direct his administration to work with Trump team to ensure a “peaceful and orderly transition.”
Biden spoke from the Rose Garden at the White House after Democrat Kamala Harris lost this week to Donald Trump, speaking to his supporters and Americans.
He closed by saying that defeat doesn’t mean one is defeated.
“America endures,” he said. “We’re going to be ok, but we need to stay engaged.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.