Today, Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall convened current and future Cabinet members to conduct a statutorily-mandated Principals-Level Presidential Transition Exercise in accordance with President Biden's direction to carry out a professional transition. This traditional meeting provided a structured opportunity to share lessons learned over the last four years and help the incoming team prepare to protect the Homeland beginning at 12 noon on January 20, 2025. Over the course of two hours, current and future Cabinet members discussed a range of scenarios, including preventing and responding to terrorist attacks as well as managing pathogens like avian flu. Participants underscored the interconnectedness between homeland incidents and global challenges. Participants in the dynamic and interactive discussion included:
Outgoing Administration
- Secretary of Homeland Security Ali Mayorkas
- Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Kristie Canegallo
- FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell
- Attorney General Merrick Garland
- Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg
- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dennis McDonough
- Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland
- Deputy Secretary of Defense Kath Hicks
- Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs ADM Chris Grady
- Small Business Administrator Isabel Guzman
- Deputy Director for National Intelligence for Mission Integration Morgan Muir
- Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Xochi Torres-Small
- Acting Under Secretary of State for Policy John Bass
- Deputy Sectary of Energy David Turk
- Acting EPA Administrator Jane Nishida
- Acting NCTC Director Brett Holmgren
- U.S. Coast Guard Commandant ADM Linda Fagan
- Deputy Director of the FBI Paul Abbate
- Deputy Director of CISA Nitin Natarajan
- Director of the CDC Dr. Many Cohen (virtual)
- Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (HHS) Dawn O'Connell
- Administrator of TSA Dave Pekoske
Incoming Administration
- Secretary of Homeland Security Nominee Kristi Noem
- Secretary of Transportation Nominee Sean Duffy
- Secretary of Defense Nominee Pete Hegseth
- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Nominee Douglas Collins
- Secretary of State Nominee Marco Rubio
- Director of National Intelligence Nominee TulsiGabbard
- Secretary of Energy Nominee Chris Wright
- Administrator of the EPA Nominee Lee Zeldin
- Secretary of Commerce Nominee Howard Lutnick
- Secretary of Labor Nominee Lori Chavez-DeRemer
- Deputy Secretary of HHS Nominee Jim O'Neill
- Secretary of Education Nominee Linda McMahon
- Secretary of Treasury Nominee Scott Bessent
- Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Nominee Scott Turner
- National Security Advisor Mike Waltz
- Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Alex Wong
- Director of the National Economic Council Kevin Hasset
