A Tale of Two Transitions: Why America Can’t Risk Another Tumultuous Presidency
While working in Washington, D.C. — the nexus of U.S. politics and global diplomacy — I saw firsthand that the peaceful transfer of presidential power is more than a ceremonial gesture or democratic ideal; it’s foundational to our national security, public health, and global stability.
I served at the White House in the United States Digital Service (USDS) from 2015 to 2018, bridging two administrations. Ahead of the 2016 election, our teams prepared exhaustive briefings for both potential successors: Hillary Clinton and, against most predictions, Donald Trump. When Trump won the electoral vote, we put aside personal politics and focused on an orderly transition.
Amid the incendiary rhetoric of the election, I, like many others, drew firm red lines — principles we wouldn’t compromise or policies we couldn’t, in good conscience, support, like proposals that threatened civil liberties or targeted marginalized communities. These principles set a clear threshold, defining the point at which many of us could no longer remain in the Trump administration. At the same time, we recognized that our commitment to the democratic process was essential to maintaining vital government stability. The work we and countless dedicated career government professionals had devoted hours to was too…