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The Trump-Vance transition team has not signed transition of power agreements with the White House, according to press secretary Karin Jean-Pierre on Thursday.
The White House press secretary responded to the issue during a daily press briefing concerning the transition between President Joe Biden’s administration and President-elect Donald Trump.
“President Biden met with the president-elect to show that transition of power and obviously offering, any assistance, needed to make sure that happens in a way that is peaceful, obviously, and efficient,” according to Jean-Pierre.
“So were going to continue to engage with the Trump transition team, to ensure that we do have that efficient, effective, transition of power,” she added. “And in those conversations, we certainly are stressing that the White House and the administration stand ready to provide assistance and that access to services and information certainly outlined in the GSA, and the White House memorandum of agreement. So, those conversations continue. And we want this to go smoothly, and that’s what we’re trying to get to,” she continued.
The delay means that the General Service Administration is unable to provide security clearances and briefings to incoming administration officials. The unsigned agreements also keep the FBI from screening Trump’s Cabinet picks.
The Associated Press also noted that the delay could force senators to vote on Trump’s Cabinet picks without traditional background checks.
Alternatively, the delay could potentially slow down the confirmation process in the Senate for Trump’s picks.
Trump’s team has not provided an official explanation for the delay. However, some believe the move is due to suspicions of the FBI’s leadership.
The president-elect has also dealt with other concerns related to the FBI, including investigations related to two assassination attempts against him during his presidential campaign.
Following comments by FBI Director Christopher Wray after Trump’s right ear was grazed by a bullet during a July 13 Butler, Pennsylvania, rally, he strongly criticized his attacks against conservative Americans and supporting the radical left.
“His only focus is destroying J6 Patriots, Raiding Mar-a-Lago, and saving Radical Left Lunatics, like the ones now in D.C. burning American flags and spray painting over our great National Monuments – with zero retribution,” he stated.