STATEMENT OF
THE HONORABLE SALLY KATZEN
DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR MANAGEMENT
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT REFORM
SUBCOMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT,
INFORMATION, AND TECHNOLOGY
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 4, 2000
Mr. Chairman and members of the Subcommittee, I thank you for
inviting me here today to
discuss the implementation of the Presidential Transition Act. Given the
events since
November 7, 2000, we do not know who the next President will be.
Nonetheless, much work has already
been done, and we are ready to ensure that a smooth transition from this
Administration to the
President-elect, whoever that may be, will occur.
The Presidential Transition Act (Act) provides for an efficient
transfer of authority from one
Administration to the next and outlines specific roles for a number of
Federal agencies,
including the General Services Administration (GSA), the Office of
Personnel Management, the
Office of Presidential Personnel, and the U.S. Archivist.
Although OMB does not have a specific role outlined in the Act, OMB
has been doing its part
in assisting the transition process. As you know, OMB was instrumental in
obtaining funding
for the Presidential transition, and helping to secure funding in the
continuing
resolution--funding that would have otherwise not been available for the
incoming
Administration. The $5.3 million in funds that was provided for the
incoming President is
available for the GSA to release, once the Administrator determines that
there is a clear victor in
the presidential election.
In addition, OMB, like every other Federal agency, is doing
everything we can--preparing
briefing materials on the organization, function, and duties of our
organization--to assist the
President- elect and his staff. We are preparing to share that material
with the next OMB
Director or other appropriate representatives of a President-elect. The
delay in identifying the
President-elect has not affected that work.
As you know, the bulk of OMB's staff are career professionals whose
mission is to serve the
Presidency and the Nation, not any individual President. Our senior career
staff is actively
working with the Director and other OMB leadership to prepare for the
transition. The expertise
and institutional memory of OMB's career staff will be invaluable to the
next President,
regardless of which candidate ultimately is inaugurated.
In addition, several weeks ago, OMB began work on an Executive Order
that the President
issued on November 27, 2000, creating a transition-coordinating council.
OMB Director
Jacob J. Lew serves as a member. The Council will provide the
President-elect's team with
coordinated services and will ensure that we are as prepared as we can be
for an orderly
transition to the new administration. Specifically, the Council will
oversee the transition
activities of the agencies and departments and direct that training
materials and orientation
sessions be prepared for appointees nominated by the President-elect. In
addition, the work of
the Council will memorialize the process under which the President's
appointees and the
President-elect's appointees will collaborate during the transition
process.
The Administration is seeking to do whatever we can in the way of
providing transition
assistance on a parallel basis to both candidates. We at OMB are prepared
to do our part in that
process.
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