President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team has signed an agreement to begin the official transfer process with the Biden administration, but the team has declined to sign two other agreements: one for logistical support, including federal funding, and another for FBI security clearances for transition officials.
Under federal law, major party nominees are expected to sign these agreements before the election to ensure a smooth transition. Kamala Harris’ team met these deadlines, but Trump’s delay has raised concerns among White House officials and lawmakers.
In a statement Tuesday, Trump’s transition team confirmed signing an agreement with the Biden White House to facilitate the handover of federal agencies. Yet, they refused to sign an agreement with the General Services Administration (GSA) that would provide federal funding, office space, and cybersecurity support, including an ethics pledge. Instead, the team announced it would implement its own ethics plan and fund the transition through private donations.
According to The Washington Post, this decision allows Trump’s team to bypass about $7 million in federal funding and raise unlimited private donations. Trump’s incoming chief of staff, Susie Wiles, emphasized that contributions from foreign donors would not be accepted and donor lists would be disclosed publicly.
Additionally, the transition team has refused to sign an agreement with the Justice Department to enable the FBI to conduct security clearances for transition officials. Without these clearances, Biden administration officials cannot share classified information with much of Trump’s team.
“This announcement fails to answer key questions about national security threats and FBI vetting of nominees, and increases concerns about corruption,” Warren said. “There appear to be serious gaps between the Trump transition’s ethics agreement and the letter of the law.”
