Transition Roundup: IG Panel Publishes Transition Guide; Trump Orders ‘Rebrand’ of Foreign Aid During Lame Duck Period

On Thursday the Food and Drug Administration's advisory committee recommended that Pfizer and BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine be approved for emergency use authorization, which President-elect Biden called “a bright light in a needlessly dark time.” He said the challenge now is to increase manufacturing and then distribution. “Before I take office, we need the Trump administration to purchase the doses it has negotiated with Pfizer and Moderna and to work swiftly to scale manufacturing for the U.S. population and the world,” said Biden. “And, we will need Congress to fund our distribution efforts.”

Amid tweeting attacks on Biden on Friday morning, President Trump also urged the FDA to approve the vaccine. “While my pushing the money drenched but heavily bureaucratic [FDA] saved five years in the approval of NUMEROUS great new vaccines, it is still a big, old, slow turtle,” he said. “Get the dam vaccines out NOW, Dr. Hahn. Stop playing games and start saving lives!!” Here are some of the other recent headlines you might have missed. 

The ninth federal execution of 2020 occurred on Monday night, which was the first during a president’s lame duck period in 130 years, The Associated Press noted. A group of Democratic lawmakers previously asked the Justice Department to suspend federal executions during the presidential transition, so the incoming Biden-Harris administration can reassess whether to move forward on them.

The Trump administration has made vast changes at the Pentagon during its lame duck period, such as removing members of advisory boards, drawing down troops and overhauling the Navy’s budget. But they can be reversed on Biden’s first day in office, Politico reported on Friday.

Trump issued an executive order on Thursday—one of his many during the transition—that directs the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development to “rebrand” the county’s foreign aid. “The United States is by far the single largest foreign aid donor in the world,” said White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany, in a statement. “More than 20 federal agencies deliver United States foreign assistance under their individual brands and logos [and] the lack of a coherent branding policy has diminished the recognition of the American people’s generosity.” 

The Council of Inspectors General on Financial Oversight published its transition handbook on Thursday. “Based on its experience and unique perspective, [the council], can be a valuable source of information about the key financial oversight issues that will confront the new administration’s management team,” said the report. “Once the new administration takes office, it is critical for [the council] and [the financial stability oversight council, established by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act] leadership to have regular and candid communications.” 

Attorney General William Barr knew about various investigations into the financial dealings of Hunter Biden, the president-elect’s son, but kept it from public view during the campaign, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. 

Upcoming: Biden will give remarks to introduce his recent appointees and nominees at approximately 2:30 p.m. 

Today’s GovExec Daily podcast episode is about the ongoing budget negotiations and possibility of a government shutdown during the transition. 

Help us understand the situation better. Are you a federal employee, contractor or military member with information, concerns, etc. about how your agency is handling the transition? Email us at newstips@govexec.com.