Donald Trump makes ‘unprecedented’ moves to block transition, say former officials
- The head of the General Services Administration – a Trump appointee – has so far refused to sign off on the start of the transition period
- Biden says there is ‘nothing going to stop’ his administration from moving forward to prepare for January 20
Last week, US President Donald Trump became the first president since George HW Bush, in 1992, to lose re-election and be voted out of office.
Now, while Trump tries to fight the outcome and so far refuses to concede to former vice-president Joe Biden, former officials warn that the Trump administration is taking unprecedented moves to block the start of the crucial transition period to the next administration, which they say may leave Biden and his team less prepared to deal with China and other challenges when they take office on January 20.
“We’re in terra incognita right now,” said Christopher Hill, a former ambassador under two Republican and two Democrat presidents. “President Trump won’t permit any kind of cooperation. That’s unprecedented.”
In previous administrations, as required by law, a federal agency known as the General Services Administration (GSA) – which oversees the government’s budgets, office space, and travel – would formally approve the start of the transition period.
02:21
Pompeo says there will be ‘a smooth transition to a second Trump administration’
With that approval comes US$6.3 million in funding, office space for hundreds of staff and, eventually, security clearances and access to classified intelligence.
Incoming officials are expected to meet their outgoing counterparts to get up to speed on what kinds of challenges the government may be dealing with around the world.