Recommendations To Amend the Presidential Transition Act and the Former Presidents Act

In order to promote the orderly transfer of executive power during the inauguration of a new President, it is recommended that the Presidential Transition Act should deal solely with the assistance to be provided to the incoming administration. The Act should also be clarified concerning: (1) the authority to use military and chartered aircraft for transition purposes; (2) the appropriation to be charged for the cost of using military aircraft; and (3) the disposition of collections from the Secret Service, the press, and others for the use of space on chartered aircraft. The Administrator of the General Services Administration should be responsible for determining whether any proposed obligation or expenditure is authorized by the Act and meets the usual requirements of government regulations pertaining to travel, payroll, and so forth. All services to be provided a former President should be henceforth covered in the Former Presidents Act. Some of the restrictions concerning salaries and travel in this Act should be removed, and provisions should be made for the services to be furnished a former Vice President. Another provision should provide for offices in two locations for a former President, with one of the offices being located in Washington, D.C. Pensions authorized for widows of former Presidents should be increased.