With political conventions behind them, the next White House administration moved its transition teams to Washington, D.C. this week to prepare for the transfer of power to the 45th President of the United States.
Whoever that is.
Teams for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump both moved into office space in the General Services Administration on Aug. 1 to start planning for the administrative handoff set for Inauguration Day on Jan. 20, 2017.
The move is promulgated by the Pre-Election Presidential Transition Act of 2010, which provides government-funded office space for the nominees of both parties for planning their administrative handovers.
The practice of presidential transitions has become more specialized as the handoff has come to be seen as a vulnerable time for the federal government.
The move also represents the first official use of the Edward "Ted" Kaufman and Michael Leavitt Presidential Transitions Improvements Act of 2015, enacted on March 18.
The law; sponsored by Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., codifies that the current administration begins planning the transfer of power no later than six months prior to Inauguration Day.
Beginning with the 2008 transition, the George W. Bush administration began planning at least six months out to effectively hand over the reins of the federal government.
Over the course of 2016, both the Partnership for Public Service and the National Academy of Public Administration have produced studies examining best practices for the modern presidential transition, with both advocating earlier preparation and planning.
"Presidential transitions are often rushed, complex and a time of real vulnerability for our nation," said Max Stier, president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, in a statement.
"This government-funded transition support enables the presidential candidates to begin essential preparations for governing long before any votes are cast."
