Romney was the first to use federal funds provided by the Presidential Transition Act of 2010 Report: Mitt 'transition' cost feds

Before Mitt Romney lost his 2012 White House bid, the federal government had already spent at least $8.9 million on his behalf — doing the behind-the-scenes work of readying an operating transition team as general election raged on.

According to Time magazine, which filed an open records request for the data, the General Services Administration broke down its spending on the pre-transition preparations. Romney was the first candidate allowed to use federal funds provided by the Presidential Transition Act of 2010, which doles out money to non-incumbent candidates after their conventions.


The building where the team was based cost $2.5 million, while the tabs for furniture and an IT communications network totaled $740,000 and $5.6 million, respectively, Time reported. Other items, like laptops bought for the would-be transition team, will still be used by federal agencies.

Other services are outlined in a 16-page Memorandum of Understanding between the GSA and a separate fund established by Romney.