President-elect Donald Trump reached a transition agreement with President Joe Biden's White House on Tuesday, clearing the path for his transition team to begin coordinating with federal agencies ahead of his inauguration on January 20.
What Is the Transition Agreement?
This agreement, mandated by the Presidential Transition Act, permits Trump's team to access government operations and share critical information with current federal officials.
However, Trump has declined signing a separate agreement with the General Services Administration (GSA) that would have provided access to secure government facilities and communication tools, as well as permitting the FBI to vet candidates tapped for national security positions.
The GSA agreement, which imposes a $5,000 contribution cap and requires disclosure of transition donors, has faced resistance from Trump's camp.
The delay in signing the transition documents may mean senators have to vote on Trump's Cabinet picks without federal background checks, The Associated Press reported.
What Is the White House Saying?
As part of the transition agreement with the White House, Trump's team will have to publicly disclose its ethics plan for the transition operation and make a commitment to uphold it, the White House said.
In addition, transition aides must sign statements that they have no financial positions that could pose a conflict of interest before they receive access to non-public federal information.
"Like President Biden said to the American people from the Rose Garden and directly to President-elect Trump, he is committed to an orderly transition," said White House spokesperson Saloni Sharma.
Sharma added, "President-elect Trump and his team will be in seat on January 20 at 12 pm, and they will immediately be responsible for a range of domestic and global challenges, foreseen and unforeseen. A smooth transition is critical to the safety and security of the American people who are counting on their leaders to be responsible and prepared."
The signed transition agreement came after there were some initial hold ups as it was supposed to have been signed by October 1.
The holdups strained initial interactions between the outgoing and incoming teams. Biden officials, restricted by the lack of formal agreements, could not fully brief Trump's representatives on pressing national and international concerns. National security discussions, for instance, were limited in scope until the agreement was finalized.
Biden himself raised the agreement with Trump when they met in the Oval Office on November 13, according to the White House, and Trump indicated that his team was working to get it signed.
Trump chief of staff-designate Susie Wiles also met with Biden's chief of staff Jeff Zients at the White House on November 19 and other senior officials in part to discuss remaining holdups, while lawyers for the two sides have spoken more than a half-dozen times in recent days to finalize the agreement.
What Happens Next?
Trump's team must now adhere to several transparency measures, including public disclosure of ethics plans and the signing of conflict-of-interest statements by transition aides.
Meanwhile, the Justice Department continues to negotiate a separate deal to expedite background checks and security clearances for Trump's appointees, many of whom require fresh clearances to access classified information.
With just weeks remaining before inauguration, the Biden administration is emphasizing the importance of collaboration, even as Trump's unconventional approach to transition logistics adds an unusual layer of complexity to the process.
What Has the Trump Transition Team Said?
The Trump transition team has said it would disclose its donors to the public and would not take foreign donations.
"This engagement allows our intended Cabinet nominees to begin critical preparations, including the deployment of landing teams to every department and agency, and complete the orderly transition of power," said Wiles in a statement.
In addition, in regards to the GSA agreement, Trump's team on Friday formally told the GSA that they would not utilize the government office space blocks from the White House reserved for their use, or government email accounts, phones and computers during the transition.
This has introduced logistical hurdles, in which federal agencies are exploring alternative methods to provide sensitive information securely, such as in-person briefings and document reviews.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
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