Engagement with agencies requires secure communication channels—typically through .gov email addresses—screenings before individuals can physically enter agencies and, in some cases, interim security clearances so team members can access classified information. Soeren Stache/picture alliance via Getty Images
Trump has ‘intent’ to engage in transition and Biden will help, White House says
The Biden administration is telling career employees to be helpful, though Trump's team so far has declined to engage in the process.
President-elect Trump’s transition team has said it intends to participate in the official process to access federal funds and agencies prior to his inauguration, the White House said on Thursday, despite his representatives so far declining to do so.
White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients spoke to Trump’s transition team on Wednesday, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, at which point transition officials “said they have an intent” to sign agreements that would enable them to fully participate in government efforts. Trump’s team did not detail when it would sign the agreements, though Jean-Pierre said the White House is leaving the lines of communication open.
Trump has still not signed an agreement with the Biden White House, nor the General Services Administration, the federal agency that manages the presidential transition, that would allow his “landing teams” to deploy to agencies throughout government. They would also provide Trump’s team with government office space, secure emails and funds set aside for transition activities. Under federal transition statute, Trump must have the memoranda of understanding in place and detail the individuals who will serve on the transition before sending them to agencies and receiving the government support.
The president-elect declined to sign the agreements throughout the election process, preventing his team from engaging in most of the formal pre-election transit process.
“We want to have an effective, efficient transfer of power,” Jean-Pierre said. “We’re ready to assist. We’ve been trying to assist with this transition.”
She added that Zients laid out to the transition team the importance of the agreements with the White House and GSA. Engagement with agencies requires secure communication channels—typically through .gov email addresses—screenings before individuals can physically enter agencies and, in some cases, interim security clearances so team members can access classified information. Career federal employees designated to serve in transition roles cannot engage with Trump’s team members until those individuals sign those agreements and GSA facilitates their deployments.
Jean-Pierre said Biden was supporting a peaceful transition because the American people deserve it. She added the administration has made clear to career employees throughout government they should—assuming Trump does sign the agreements—aid in helping Trump’s team take the reins at their agencies.
“We want an effective, efficient transition,” Jean-Pierre said. “That’s what we’re saying. That’s in the president's administration, career [or] political.”
Federal agencies have prepared briefing materials to present to Trump’s landing teams and Congress has appropriated funding to support Trump’s transition efforts, though both require the MOU. Asked what would happen if Trump’s team does not sign the agreements, Jean-Pierre said she would not get into hypotheticals.
Biden has invited Trump to the White House to meet, with both sides suggesting that would happen soon but no date has been set.
Trump has established a transition team, naming Howard Lutnick, who leads a financial services firm, and Linda McMahon, who headed the Small Business Administration under the former president, as his transition co-chairs. McMahon also chairs the America First Policy Institute, a group of former Trump administration officials that has worked to set up policies and personnel for Trump to tap into.
In a statement Wednesday evening, McMahon and Lutnick said they have been hard at work on transition planning since August and that Trump would be ready to govern on Jan. 20. They made no mention of working with the Biden administration or their intention to sign any agreements.
“We are proud to volunteer our time to present President Trump with a wide array of experts from which he can select for his team,” they said. “As he chooses the best people to join his team and best policies to pursue, his transition team will ensure the implementation of President Trump’s common sense agenda starting on day one.”