WASHINGTON – Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the first chief of staff for President Barack Obama, returns to the White House on Friday for a transition tradition — a lunch for the incoming chief of staff.
Emanuel and Bill Daley, the Chicagoans who served as chiefs for Obama, will be among those present at the gathering hosted by current Chief of Staff Denis McDonough for President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming chief of staff Reince Priebus, who is stepping down as the Republican National Committee Chair.
Emanuel was in Washington last week for a forum and to make the rounds to squeeze every federal dollar out of the Obama administration he can before Obama leaves office on Jan. 20. Emanuel also has a Pentagon visit on his Friday schedule.
One of the biggest federal items for Chicago still outstanding is a $765 million full funding agreement for the CTA’s Red and Purple lines modernization program. The paperwork needs to be completed in the next few days. Last week, Emanuel had an appointment with Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.
