Presidential Transition Team Offices Waiting for Occupancy

WASHINGTON, DC-While the nation waits for the final word on who will be the next US President, the US General Services Administration is gearing up to house both the presidential transition team and inaugural committee. The presidential transition team will occupy 90,000 sf at 1800 G St. NW, according to GSA spokesman Gary J. Caruso. The inaugural team will occupy four floors of the former Department of Education building across from the Air and Space Museum.

“We had an agency at 1800 G St.,” Caruso said. “When it moved, we held the space for the presidential transition team. Traditionally, it takes about four days to get the team in there, so we could have them in by Dec. 7. They’ll occupy the facility until mid-February.” Other government agencies will fill the space once the transition team and inaugural committee leaves.

Space isn’t the only consideration for the team. The offices must also be equipped with 500 computers, much different than the 1992 transition, according to information released by the GSA. During the last transition, laptops were rare and wireless technology barely existed. Now, there are fewer paper-based transactions since many functions are performed electronically. This saves time and money for the taxpayers, according to the GSA, which supports government agencies with space, technology, supplies and solutions to help them do their jobs.

The Transition Act of 1963 authorizes the GSA to support the day-to-day transition activities for the apparent winner. The agency has been working with both campaigns since August to help prepare for a smooth transition.