Washington DC: President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team has signed a memorandum of understanding with the outgoing Biden administration to begin preparations for his second term in the White House.
However, the memorandum notably bypassed certain protocols, such as an ethics agreement that would have required transparency about the funding sources for Trump’s transition effort, as well as background checks for nominees to high-level government positions—areas where Trump has deviated from traditional political practices.
Despite this, Trump’s incoming chief of staff, Susie Wiles, described the memorandum as a positive step, stating it would allow Cabinet nominees to start critical preparations, including deploying teams to government departments and agencies to ensure a smooth transition of power.
The memorandum also facilitates communication between Biden administration officials and Trump’s team, ensuring they can exchange information about government operations and ongoing projects before Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
White House spokesperson Saloni Sharma emphasized that a smooth transition is essential for national security and the safety of the American people.
However, the memorandum does not include all the typical agreements required for a presidential transition. One such agreement, with the Department of Justice, authorizes FBI background checks for government officials, while another, with the General Services Administration (GSA), enables the receipt of donations for transition expenses.
Without signing the GSA agreement, Trump’s team is unlikely to access the $7.2 million designated for presidential transitions, as candidates typically sign it by October 1 of an election year.
Trump has refused to sign the GSA agreement, and instead, the memorandum states that Trump’s team will establish and adhere to its own ethics plan, avoiding conflicts of interest and protecting non-public information. The memorandum also suggests that Trump may bypass the usual FBI clearance process for accessing classified materials.
In Sharma’s statement, Wiles defended the decision not to sign the GSA and Justice Department agreements, framing it as a way to avoid using taxpayer funds for the transition costs. Sharma called the transition team’s approach a demonstration of “organizational autonomy” and self-sufficiency, with existing security and information protections in place.
While Biden administration officials disagreed with skipping some standard protocols, Sharma indicated they would proceed with the transition process to avoid delays.
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