The complexities and some of the potential pitfalls of the presidential transition period are described in a newly updated report from the Congressional Research Service.
“A variety of events, decisions, and activities contribute to what some may characterize as the unfolding drama of a presidential transition. Interparty transitions in particular might be contentious.”
The report addresses the use of executive orders, record preservation and clemency actions by the outgoing Administration, as well as cybersecurity, budget preparation, political appointments, and so forth. See Presidential Transitions: Issues Involving Outgoing and Incoming Administrations, updated November 16, 2016.
Other new and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.
Counting Electoral Votes: An Overview of Procedures at the Joint Session, Including Objections by Members of Congress, updated November 15, 2016
The Congressional Review Act: Frequently Asked Questions, updated November 17, 2016
Infrastructure Finance and Debt to Support Surface Transportation Investment, updated November 17, 2016
Prevalence of Mental Illness in the United States: Data Sources and Estimates, updated November 16, 2016
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s (ACA’s) Transitional Reinsurance Program, November 16, 2016
CRISPR: A Revolutionary Tool for Editing the Code of Life?, CRS Insight, November 17, 2016
Certain U.S. Laws for Foreign Workers Draw Fire from India in the WTO, CRS Legal Sidebar, November 16, 2016
Justice Department’s Role in Cyber Incident Response, CRS Insight, November 15, 2016
Naval Station Guantanamo Bay: History and Legal Issues Regarding Its Lease Agreements, updated November 17, 2016
Iran Sanctions, updated November 16, 2016
Yemen: Civil War and Regional Intervention, updated November 16, 2016
These ideas aim to advance the detailed policy solutions needed to foster public trust and implement fairness in the adoption of AI across diverse domains, from healthcare and government benefits to rural access, education, and worker protections.
The evidence is clear: algorithmic pay-setting is established in app-based work, and payroll/timekeeping failures show how software can produce systemic wage harm at scale
While a few states have taken steps to implement decision-making mechanisms for certain AI systems, too many leaders are simply accepting narratives about AI’s purported public benefit at face value – jumping to the “how” of AI implementation before thoroughly vetting potential systems and deciding whether they are appropriate to use at all.
When properly structured — with specific numeric targets, secured financial obligations, independent monitoring, and meaningful enforcement — CBAs transform data center deals into durable community partnerships.