WASHINGTON — Two days before a key meeting with President Joe Biden, President-elect Donald Trump has yet to sign the documents needed to unlock resources for a smooth transfer of power from one presidential administration to another.

Trump transition spokesman Brian Hughes told State Newsroom on Monday that “Trump-Vance transition attorneys continue to engage constructively with Biden-Harris Administration attorneys on all agreements under the Presidential Transition Act “.

“We will let you know once a decision is made,” Hughes said in a statement.

Biden will host Trump at the White House Wednesday morning, according to his public schedule.

One of the agreements at issue includes a memorandum of understanding between the Trump-Vance transition and the US General Services Administration for office space, information technology services and staff assistance, as outlined in the 2010 update of Presidential Transition Act of 1963.

The services are available to the president-elect and major presidential candidates following nominating conventions, but come with financial disclosure requirements and a $5,000 contribution cap on transition-related donations from any individual or organization.

The other is a memorandum of understanding with the White House, negotiated by the sitting president and the president-elect, to establish an ethics plan regarding transition team members and information sharing, including national security matters. The due date was October 1st.

“Peaceful and orderly” transition was called for

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Friday that chief of staff Jeff Zients had contacted Trump-Vance transition team co-chairs Linda McMahon and Howard Lutnick, both major campaign donors.

“So we’re going to keep that line of communication open. We will be helpful here. We want to have an effective and efficient transition of power,” said Jean-Pierre.

Biden said Thursday from the White House Rose Garden that a “peaceful and orderly transition” is what “the American people deserve.”

Transitional memorandums are available online, and the public can view the endorsements filed in September by Vice President Kamala Harris, the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee who ultimately lost to Trump.

Raskin is calling on Trump to act

Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the U.S. House Oversight and Accountability Committee, called on the Trump campaign in October to complete the paperwork.

“Breaking the precedent set by every other presidential candidate since 2010, you have rejected these resources and refused to commit to a smooth transition,” Raskin wrote in an Oct. 23 message. letter.

The Maryland Democrat suggested in the letter that the Trump team’s filing delinquency “may be at least partially driven” by an attempt to avoid financial disclosure and limit rules.

“With less than three weeks until the election in which the American people will choose a new President of the United States, I urge you to put the public interest in maintaining a properly functioning government above any personal financial or political interests you may have perceive in boycotting the law and the official transition process,” Raskin wrote.

In February 2021, the Biden-Harris administration filed a 1,021-page donation and transition spending disclosure.

Last updated at 16:25, November 11, 2024