Ballotpedia's Daily Transition Tracker - November 30, 2020
November 30, 2020
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Joe Biden announced his appointees for seven top White House communications positions.   Welcome to Ballotpedia's Transition TrackerNovember 30, 2020Joe Biden announced his appointees for seven top White House communications positions, including Kate Bedingfield as White House communications director and Jen Psaki as White House press secretary. Former Vice President Joe Biden (D) is the projected winner of the 2020 presidential election. The Electoral College will meet on December 14, 2020, to vote for the next president of the United States. In 2016, there were 1,714 government positions subject to presidential appointment: 1,242 positions required Senate confirmation and 472 did not. Every weekday, Ballotpedia is tracking potential Cabinet nominees, appointments, and news related to the Biden presidential transition. 
Appointments and NominationsBiden announced his appointees for top White House communications roles on Sunday. “For the first time in history, these communications roles will be filled entirely by women,” the Transition said in a statement. Kate Bedingfield, White House communications directorKate Bedingfield was a deputy campaign manager and communications director for the Biden presidential campaign. During the Obama administration, Bedingfield worked as a communications director for Biden, associate communications director, deputy director of media affairs, and director of response. Outside of government service, Bedingfield has been the chief spokeswoman and vice president of corporate communications at the Motion Picture Association of America. Jen Psaki, White House press secretaryJen Psaki served as White House communications director during the Obama administration. She also held other key communications roles, including State Department spokesperson, deputy White House communications director, and deputy White House press secretary. Psaki worked on presidential campaigns for John Kerry and Barack Obama. Psaki is currently leading the confirmations team for the Biden Transition. The other five appointments include the following Biden campaign and Obama administration veterans:
News
Transition in Context: What is ascertainment?Under the Presidential Transition Act, the administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA) is responsible for ascertaining—or identifying—the apparent winner of the presidential election. Doing so allows the president-elect to begin to receive funding, office space, and support services in the transition between administrations. The GSA administrator has typically made this ascertainment shortly after the presidential election with the exception of the 2000 presidential election. In that year, the GSA administrator did not ascertain the election until December 13, after the Supreme Court decided the Florida recount case, Bush v. Gore. The GSA ascertained the results of the election on November 23, 2020, identifying Biden as the apparent winner. GSA Administrator Emily Murphy said in a letter, "Please know that I came to my decision independently, based on the law and available facts. I was never directly or indirectly pressured by any Executive Branch official—including those who work at the White House or GSA—with regard to the substance or timing of my decision.” According to the Center for Presidential Transition, recent incoming administrations have had 77 days to prepare for the transfer of power. The Biden Transition will have 57. What We’re Reading
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