Yohannes Abraham, the U.S. Ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), has been selected for a key role in Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential transition team, should she win the upcoming election. Abraham, currently based in Indonesia, is expected to conclude his ambassadorial role shortly to begin preparations for Harris’s potential administration. His transition team will focus on establishing operations but will not be involved in selecting personnel or shaping policies before the election.
Legal support for the transition team will come from Covington and Burling LLP, where former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is a partner. Holder has already played a role in Harris’s campaign by vetting potential running mates.
Abraham, who has a background in national security and served as chief of staff for the National Security Council, has significant experience in transitions, having been the executive director of the Biden transition team in 2020.
Yohannes Abraham
The General Services Administration (GSA) is preparing to offer its services to both the Harris and Trump campaigns for the transition process, with a deadline of September 1 to formalize agreements.
The process involves accepting the GSA’s offer in writing and establishing a memo of understanding to secure office space and administrative support in Washington, D.C. However, the tight timeline and upcoming federal holiday may impact these preparations.
In contrast, former President Donald Trump’s campaign has already formed its own transition team, led by Linda McMahon and Howard Lutnick. Their involvement distances Trump from the Project 2025 initiative, a conservative effort that has been criticized by Democrats for its extreme policy proposals.
McMahon and Lutnick’s leadership suggests a different approach from the one proposed by Project 2025, though some former Trump staffers are involved in the project.
The U.S. Congress established the need for structured presidential transitions in 1963, recognizing the importance of a smooth and efficient handover of power.
This process ensures that an incoming president can quickly appoint thousands of officials and effectively govern from the outset. The preparations by both the Harris and Trump teams highlight the importance of being ready to take on these responsibilities immediately after the election.
