Policy News

Transition News

During the past weeks, President-elect Barack Obama has announced his choices for department heads and other high-level officials who will guide his administration. America.gov offers an overview of the departments and the respective cabinet-level nominees

Here are some of the most recent nominees — please check the Change.gov Newsroom for further announcements:

• Nobel laureate Steven Chu nominated as Secretary of the Department of Energy more
• National Security Team announced: Hillary Clinton picked for Secretary of State, Robert Gates to stay on at Pentagon. Former Marine General James Jones will be national security adviser, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano nominated secretary of homeland security, Eric Holder as attorney general, and Susan Rice as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Full story on america.gov
• Economic team key members Timothy Geithner as Secretary of the Treasury and Lawrence Summers as Director of the National Economic Council; Christina Romer as Chair of the Council of Economic advisors, Melody Barnes and Heather Higginbottom as Director and Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council. More

Links

• Change.gov: Office of the President-elect
• White House Transition page
• eJournalUSA: U.S. Presidential Transitions

• Politically Appointed Jobs with the New Administration

Interesting Articles

• Obama Will Appoint Thousands to Government Positions (America.gov, Nov. 17)
• Dozens of Advisers Will Guide Next U.S. President (America.gov, Nov. 14)
• Obama Team Severely Restricts Role of Lobbyists in Transition (America.gov, Nov. 13) 

Information on the Inauguration

The Presidential Inaugural Swearing-In Ceremony will take place on the West Front of the Capitol at noon on Tuesday, January 20, 2009. The purpose of this inauguration is to honor the incoming president with formal ceremonies, including:

• a Presidential Swearing-in Ceremony
• an Inaugural Address
• an Inaugural Parade.

Links

• Change.gov: Inauguration
• Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies
• About the USA: Inauguration

Journalists interested in covering the ceremony must apply through the appropriate U.S. Senate press galleries (Radio/TV; Print; Periodicals): www.senate.gov/galleries - The Galleries ONLY handle the Inaugural Swearing-In Ceremony.  All other credential requests will go through the Presidential Inaugural Committee.

Journalists interested in press announcements from the Obama Transition team should contact their press office through:

Obama Transition Press Office
Phone: 202-540-3483
Email: press@ptt.gov
www.change.gov

In addition to the information listed above, please see our About the USA website on the transition and the inauguration.

Archive: 2008 Elections

- Nominations -

Under the Constitution (Article II, Section 2, Clause 2), the President and the Senate share the power to make appointments to high-level policy-making positions in federal departments, agencies, boards, and commissions. Generally, the President nominates individuals to these positions, and the Senate must confirm them before he can appoint them to office. “The president shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States …” U.S. Constitution, Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 For further information: U.S. Senate on nominations