The Trump transition team has signed an agreement with the current administration to unlock access to resources for the transition process. However, they have refused to sign another critical transition agreement with the General Services Administration, which would make the transition more secure and transparent, according to the Biden White House.
On Tuesday, Biden White House officials stated that President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team has not agreed to terms on a memorandum of understanding with the Justice Department. This agreement is crucial for processing security clearance requests for incoming administration officials.
The General Services Administration, an independent federal agency responsible for federal office space, also supports transition teams and presidential inauguration work. Under the Presidential Transition Act of 1963, the GSA must report regularly to Congress on the status of transition planning.
White House spokesperson Saloni Sharma mentioned that both the White House and the agency had requested the Trump transition team to sign agreements well before the election. These agreements are common practice in transitions between administrations, with both Republicans and Democrats having signed them in the past. The Trump team announced that they have signed the White House agreement.
Susie Wiles, incoming Trump White House chief of staff, stated that after completing the selection process for the incoming Cabinet, President-elect Trump is moving forward with the transition by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with President Joe Biden’s White House. This engagement will allow intended Cabinet nominees to prepare for their roles and ensure an orderly transition of power.
By signing the White House agreement, authorized members of the Trump team can access White House and agency facilities, information, and employees. However, by declining to sign a similar agreement with the General Services Administration, the Trump team will not receive office space, secure email addresses, or funding for transition staffing and activities. Despite this, the White House is committed to protecting sensitive information and preventing conflicts of interest.
While progress has been made towards a memorandum of understanding between the Trump team and the Justice Department, no agreement has been signed yet. The Justice Department is responsible for processing security clearances for incoming administration officials who require access to briefing materials and national security information.
According to a Justice Department spokesperson, the DOJ is prepared to process security clearance requests once the memorandum of understanding is signed. This agreement is essential for ensuring that incoming administration officials have the necessary clearances for their roles.
Kathryn Dunn Tenpas, a senior fellow at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center specializing in presidential transitions, expressed concern about the lack of transparency in the Trump transition team’s approach. She noted that not signing the General Services Administration agreement may save taxpayer money, but it also avoids additional requirements for transparency and documentation.
Dunn Tenpas explained that accepting government resources comes with the obligation to report all donations to the transition, with a limit of $5,000 per person. By not accepting GSA funding, the transition team can avoid disclosing donor information. Additionally, using government servers for transition activities ensures greater security and compliance with the Freedom of Information Act.
The GSA encourages using government computers for transition activities due to their secure networks and protection against hacking. Transition team emails and communications on government computers are subject to FOIA requests, ensuring transparency and accountability.
In conclusion, while the Trump transition team has made progress in certain areas of the transition process, the lack of signed agreements with the GSA and the Justice Department raises concerns about transparency and security. The Biden White House continues to work towards a smooth transition of power, despite the challenges posed by the Trump team’s decisions.
