Representatives from Vice President Kamala Harris’ and former President Donald Trump’s transition teams engaged in discussions with federal agency transition planners on Tuesday to address 'post-election readiness,' as confirmed by a White House spokesperson.
The primary focus of the meeting was to ensure that both agencies and transition teams are adequately prepared to execute their responsibilities in a responsible and efficient manner, the White House spokesperson stated.
With less than a week remaining before the election, both teams are intensifying their transition preparations. While Harris’ team has already signed memorandums of understanding regarding transition activities, Trump’s team has missed deadlines and has not finalized any agreements with the federal government, raising concerns among nonpartisan experts and some Democrats.
One of the memorandums, if signed with the General Services Administration (GSA), would grant access to office space, communications, equipment, and IT support. Another agreement, with the White House, outlines the terms for accessing agencies, including personnel, facilities, and documents. Additionally, the transition teams are expected to submit an ethics plan and identify individuals who will require security clearances to access classified information during the transition period.
Earlier in September, representatives from both Harris and Trump's teams participated in a meeting with the White House Transition Coordinating Committee, led by White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients. The Federal Transition Coordinator has maintained communication with each candidate’s transition teams, according to the spokesperson.
