A highly critical project is at risk because required professional resources are missing. What should the newly assigned project manager do first?

The project manager's first action should be to find available professionals within the organization to fill the gaps. This is the most immediate and cost-effective solution, leveraging existing internal resources. It aligns with the principle of optimizing resource utilization before exploring external options. Determining if existing team members can split tasks is a secondary consideration, as it might lead to overwork or skill gaps. Allocating funding for external professionals or requesting a budget for training are valid long-term solutions, but they involve additional time and cost, making them less suitable as the first step for an immediate resource gap on a critical project.