The transition team for President-elect Donald Trump officially completed the necessary paperwork on Tuesday to initiate the transfer of authority to the Biden administration after an extended period of over a month, as confirmed by Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles.
Nevertheless, the team continues to hesitate in signing at least two critical agreements essential for the seamless handover of sensitive and classified information.
The New York Times disclosed that the transition team has chosen not to approve an agreement enabling the F.B.I. to perform security clearances for its members.
Moreover, the team has also declined to endorse an agreement to secure office facilities, email accounts, and other cleared resources from the General Services Administration. Wiles stated that these refusals were motivated by a desire for government efficiency.
She mentioned that Trump prefers his transition team to operate independently, hence the decision against signing the GSA agreement.
Wiles remarked, “This independence facilitates a streamlined approach, ensuring that the Trump Administration is primed from Day 1.”
Additionally, Wiles argued that the F.B.I.’s security checks and clearances are unnecessary for transition team members as they possess pre-existing security and information systems, asserting, “This implies we won’t be needing extra governmental and bureaucratic oversight.” However, this disregard for established protocols should not come as a shock to observers of the Trump administration’s dynamics.
The Project 2025 agenda criticized the FBI as a “bloated, arrogant, increasingly lawless organization,” with speculation suggesting Trump might replace its current director with someone loyal to MAGA principles, as reported by CNN (readers should note that Trump personally disavowed Project 2025).
Furthermore, there’s the Department of Government Efficiency, a concept pushed into existence by Trump’s right-wing billionaire ally, Elon Musk, which appears to focus exclusively on discussing governmental inefficiencies so far.
As the president-elect, Trump was expected to have finalized the memorandum of understanding along with the GSA agreement concerning funding for secure office space and technology by October 1, according to NPR. The specifics of the transition are detailed in the Presidential Transition Act.
Wiles contended that not signing the GSA agreement would result in savings for taxpayers, and the team has committed to refraining from accepting donations from foreign countries. However, their aversion to adherence to protocols may complicate other operational aspects.
Without the necessary signed documents, NYT reported that the Biden team may be compelled to conduct security briefings solely in person within secured reading areas, or require documentation to ensure that non-governmental technology complies with specific standards.
