Biden officials harbor deep worries in particular about the fate of their work abroad, where Trump is expected to abruptly shift the U.S.' priorities. The administration is racing to ship a last batch of aid to Ukraine before Jan. 20, for fear Trump will immediately cut off support for the country’s defense against Russia.

Biden administration officials are working against the clock doling out billions in grants and taking other steps to try to preserve at least some of the outgoing president’s legacy before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.