This live coverage is ending now, thanks for following along. You can read the latest on Democrats winning a California house seat here:
Democrat Derek Tran ousted Republican Michelle Steel in a southern California House district Wednesday that was specifically drawn to give Asian Americans a stronger voice on Capitol Hill.
Steel said in a statement: “Like all journeys, this one is ending for a new one to begin.” When she captured the seat in 2020, Steel joined Washington state Democrat Marilyn Strickland and California Republican Young Kim as the first Korean American women elected to Congress.
Tran, a lawyer and worker rights advocate and the son of Vietnamese refugees, declared victory earlier this week. He said his win “is a testament to the spirit and resilience of our community. As the son of Vietnamese refugees, I understand firsthand the journey and sacrifices many families in our district have made for a better life.”
President Joe Biden’s administration is urging Ukraine to quickly increase the size of its military by drafting more troops and revamping its mobilization laws to allow for the conscription of those as young as 18, the Associated Press reports.
A senior Biden administration official, who spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private consultations, said Wednesday that the outgoing Democratic administration wants Ukraine to lower the mobilization age to 18 from the current age of 25 to expand the pool of fighting-age men available to help a badly outnumbered Ukraine in its nearly three-year-old war with Russia.
The official said “the pure math” of Ukraine’s situation now is that it needs more troops in the fight. Currently Ukraine is not mobilizing or training enough soldiers to replace its battlefield losses while keeping pace with Russia’s growing military, the official added.
Republican senator introduces bill to abolish US Department of Education
A bill that would accomplish Donald Trump’s goal of abolishing the federal Department of Education has been introduced into the US Senate.
The Republican senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota introduced the bill, called the Returning Education to Our States Act, on Thursday. If passed, the bill would see $200bn in funding and the work of the education department redistributed to other federal agencies and states.
“The federal Department of Education has never educated a single student, and it’s long past time to end this bureaucratic department that causes more harm than good,” Rounds said in a statement announcing the bill.
He added: “For years, I’ve worked toward removing the federal Department of Education. I’m pleased that president-elect Trump shares this vision, and I’m excited to work with him and Republican majorities in the Senate and House to make this a reality. This legislation is a roadmap to eliminating the federal Department of Education by practically rehoming these federal programs in the departments where they belong, which will be critical as we move into next year.”
Major responsibilities of the Department of Education would be rerouted to other offices: the administration of federal student loans would become the responsibility of the treasury department; the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which enforces protections for the 7.5 million students with special needs, would fall under the Department of Health and Human Services; the Fulbright-Hays Program would be overseen by the Department of State.
Biden preparing $725m weapons package for Ukraine
US President Joe Biden’s administration is preparing a $725m weapons package for Ukraine, two US officials told Reuters on Wednesday, as the outgoing president seeks to bolster the government in Kyiv before leaving office in January.
According to an official familiar with the plan, the Biden administration plans to provide a variety of anti-tank weapons from US stocks to blunt Russia’s advancing troops, including landmines, drones, Stinger missiles, ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS).
Today So Far
Thanks for joining us so far today. Here are some of the top headlines we’ve covered:
The Associated Press called two more House races, leaving only one congressional race undecided. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks, a Republican, won reelection in her district in Iowa; while Democrat Derek Tran won his race in California’s 45th congressional district, beating incumbent Michelle Steel.
Canada and Mexico have begun considering retaliatory tariffs they may levy on certain items from the United States should Donald Trump follow through on his threat to impose 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods.
Several Trump appointees were confirmed to have been targets of bomb threats at their homes on Wednesday. The FBI confirmed it is investigating the threats. Those targeted include: Pete Hegseth, Matt Gaetz, Elise Stefanik, Howard Lutnick and Lee Zeldin.
House speaker Mike Johnson said he would host a meeting with Republican lawmakers and the two leaders of the Department of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, to discuss government cuts next week.
A lawsuit was dismissed against Fox News brought by Ray Epps, a Donald Trump supporter who became the subject of a rightwing conspiracy theory about the January 6 attack and sued the outlet for defamation.
Democrats are criticizing Kamala Harris’s campaign for failing to critically analyze her loss and any missteps she made.
Mark Zuckerberg joined Donald Trump for a private meeting at Mar-a-Lago this afternoon, the New York Times reports. Although the Facebook founder did not back Trump, Zuckerberg called the president-elect in July after the first assassination attempt. Not long after, Zuckerberg called Trump’s response to the attempt on his life “badass” on a podcast.
Zuckerberg joined a host of tech leaders who reached out to Trump in the days leading up to the election.
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Canada has begun considering retaliatory tariffs it may levy on certain items from the United States should Donald Trump follow through on his threat to impose 25% tariffs on Canadian goods, the Associated Press reports.
The senior official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Canada is preparing for every eventuality, but stressed no decision had been made.
The Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau is holding an emergency meeting today with leaders of the nation’s provinces, who’ve called on Trudeau to negotiate a bilateral trade deal with the US, as opposed to the current, trilateral US-Mexico-Canada agreement.
For her part, the Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum announced that her administration is also preparing a list of retaliatory tariffs “if the situation comes to that”.
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Amid criticism of Donald Trump’s transition from top Democrats like senator Elizabeth Warren, Trump’s team submitted an ethics plan that does not appear to include provisions for the president-elect himself, CNN reports.
“There does not appear to be a provision addressing the requirement for the president-elect to address his conflicts of interest,” Valerie Smith Boyd, director of the Center for Presidential Transition at the nonprofit, nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service, told CNN.
The president-elect raised eyes for potential conflicts of interest during his first term in matters regarding his businesses and brands, particularly his hotels. During his recent campaign, Trump capitalized on his brand by selling a line of watches, bibles, shoes and NFTs.
Trump’s transition team submitted the ethics plan as part of paperwork governing the presidential transition. Although agreements with the Biden White House and General Services Administration were due in September, Trump’s team only signed the White House agreement yesterday (and declined to sign an agreement with the GSA). Negotiations over transition paperwork with the Department of Justice are still ongoing.
The Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer announced that he is in contact with law enforcement about the bomb threats and swatting targeting several of Donald Trump’s political appointees.
“I’m in touch with law enforcement and closely monitoring the reports of bomb threats targeted at politicians. Violence has no place in our politics. Period. Law enforcement will work to keep everyone safe, and those responsible must be held fully accountable,” Schumer wrote in a social media post.
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With results still coming in from this year’s House elections, Axios reports that “at least two dozen ambitious House members are already sizing up runs for higher office in 2026”. Those potential runs for office could disrupt the razor-thin margins in the House if candidates are absent campaigning.
Axios named a long list of Republicans and Democrats alike considering bids for the Senate or governorship, including congresswoman Nancy Mace and representative Michael McCaul.
Updated
With Iowa representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks and California representative-elect Derek Tran declared the winners of their respective races, the Associated Press has yet to declare a winner in only one remaining House race. Results are still too close to call in California’s 13th District, where Democrat Adam Gray is slightly ahead of Republican incumbent John Duarte.
As the Associated Press called California’s 45th district for Democrat Derek Tran, Republican incumbent Michelle Steel appeared to concede.
In a statement posted on social media, Steel did not use the word “concede” or name Tran but said her journey in Congress “is ending”.
“Everything is God’s will and, like all journeys, this one is ending for a new one to begin,” she said. “I owe a debt of gratitude to my supporters, my staff, my family, my daughters and especially my husband, Shawn, for standing by me through endless campaigns. To my volunteers, we would never have made it this far without your tireless efforts. And, to the voters, thank you.”
Updated
Derek Tran, who won his race for California’s 45th district today, flipped one of just three seats for Democrats this election.
The other two pick-ups for Democrats were elsewhere in California and Oregon.
Tran, an attorney and Army veteran, defeated two-term Republican Michelle Steel, largely by focusing on her record on abortion rights. Steel had twice co-sponsored a nationwide abortion ban, called the Life at Conception Act, but later withdrew her support from the bill.
Despite criticism from Donald Trump, who called Tran a “Radical Left Puppet of Communist China”, Tran was able to dodge such criticism as the son of war refugees from Vietnam. His district – which is anchored by Orange County – includes the nation’s largest Vietnamese community. Tran will be the district’s first Vietnamese American representative.
He said his win “is a testament to the spirit and resilience of our community. As the son of Vietnamese refugees, I understand firsthand the journey and sacrifices many families in our district have made for a better life.”
Updated
Democrat Derek Tran wins California's 45th congressional district
Democrat Derek Tran has won election to the US House of Representatives in California’s 45th congressional district, beating incumbent Michelle Steel.
The AP has called the race for Tran after a weeks-long count. Republicans already control the US House, as well as the Senate, but picking up the seat is a big win for Democrats, who lost it to Steel in 2020.
Although Steel initially had a commanding lead, the race became neck and neck as election workers tallied more ballots.
Updated
Iowa representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks, a Republican, has won reelection to the House of Representatives, the Associated Press announced after a recount. Miller-Meeks’ lead over her opponent, Democrat Christina Bohannan, was less than a percentage point. Although Miller-Meeks had declared victory, the AP had not called the race because the margin was close enough that it could prompt a recount – which Bohannan’s campaign called for on 14 November.
“This is a delaying tactic to thwart the will of the people,” the Miller-Meeks campaign said of the recount, adding that it wasted taxpayer dollars. “A recount won’t meaningfully change the outcome of this race as the congresswoman’s lead is mathematically impossible to overcome.”
Miller-Meeks’ victory gives Republicans 220 seats in the House to Democrats’ 214 (the AP has yet to call one remaining House race). It also marks the first time in three decades that Iowa will have an all-Republican congressional delegation.
Updated
A little-known Florida-based drones company said on Wednesday it had appointed Donald Trump Jr as an adviser – then saw its stock price surge.
The Guardian’s Martin Pengelly has more on the president-elect’s son:
“Don Jr joining our board of advisors provides us unique expertise we need as we bring drone component manufacturing back to America,” said Allan Evans, chief executive of Unusual Machines.
By mid-morning on the New York stock exchange, company shares had climbed as high as $11.67, more than double the day’s opening price.
Unusual Machines also said Trump Jr, the oldest son of the president-elect, was among its investors. A filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission listed Trump Jr as the second-biggest shareholder.
In a press release that described Trump Jr as “a globally recognized business leader” and “best-selling author”, Evans said he would “bring a wealth of experience”.
Trump, typically referred to as Don Jr, has spent most of his adult life working for his father’s company, the Trump Organization, on real estate and branding. But he has risen to political prominence since his sister Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, distanced themselves from Donald Trump following his defeat by Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election and incitement of the January 6 attack on Congress by Trump supporters who tried in vain to overturn his loss.
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The day so far ...
A host of Trump appointees experienced bomb threats today. To recap the day:
Several Trump appointees were confirmed to have been targets of bomb threats at their homes on Wednesday. The FBI confirmed it is investigating the threats. Those targeted include: Pete Hegseth, Matt Gaetz, Elise Stefanik, Howard Lutnick and Lee Zeldin.
Trump named some new people to round out his second administration. He added Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health; Jim O’Neill as deputy health secretary; John Phelan as Navy secretary and Keith Kellogg as a special envoy for Ukraine and Russia.
House speaker Mike Johnson said he would host a meeting with Republican lawmakers and the two leaders of the Department of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, to discuss government cuts next week.
A lawsuit was dismissed against Fox News brought by Ray Epps, a Donald Trump supporter who became the subject of a rightwing conspiracy theory about the January 6 attack and sued the outlet for defamation.
Democrats are criticizing Kamala Harris’s campaign for failing to critically analyze her loss and any missteps she made.
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Harris criticized for campaign 'patting each other on the back' despite loss
Democrats are criticizing Kamala Harris and her campaign for not critically analyzing her run or acknowledging any errors that could have contributed to her loss.
Harris participated in a video call to thank donors, clips of which spread around the internet, with one Democratic National Committee official calling the call essentially “just patting each other on the back”, despite Harris’s loss.
Separately, Pod Save America released an episode yesterday with several Harris campaign officials which has received pushback for failing to hold the campaign to account for its decisions and saw the aides defensive rather than reflective of any mistakes.
For more on how some Democrats are reacting to the Harris post-mortems, the Guardian’s Robert Tait has the full story:
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House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that he would host Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy on Capitol Hill next Thursday to talk about ways to cut the government as part of the two men’s Department of Government Efficiency effort.
In a post on Musk’s platform, X, Johnson said Republican House and Senate members were invited to “discuss major reform ideas to achieve regulatory rescissions, administrative reductions, and cost savings—& revive the principle of limited government!”
While it’s called a “department,” the new effort is not a department of the government – a president cannot unilaterally create a department. Instead, it is expected to offer suggestions to Trump on places to cut, which could include entire agencies and programs.
Musk has previously said the government should have 99 agencies, a seemingly arbitrary number, instead of the several hundred it has now. Earlier today, he suggested getting rid of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, an agency tasked with protecting consumers from predatory behavior in the finance sector.
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A report released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that abortions decreased by 2% in 2022, the year Roe v Wade was overturned.
Since Roe’s demise, abortion restrictions and bans in some states have closed off or limited access in those places – though other states have increased access.
More from the Guardian’s Carter Sherman in the full story here:
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Key event
Lee Zeldin, Trump’s pick to lead the environmental protection agency, said on X that a pipe bomb threat targeting his home “was sent in with a pro-Palestinian themed message”.
He and his family weren’t home, he said, and are safe. Zeldin added: “We are working with law enforcement to learn more as the situation develops.
“We are thankful for the swift actions taken by local officers to keep our family, neighbors, and local community secure.”
Updated
Keith Kellogg tapped as Ukraine-Russia envoy
Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he chose Keith Kellogg to serve as a special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, a newly created role as the two countries remain at war and the US’s support for Ukraine will be a key decision for Trump’s incoming administration.
Kellogg previously served as a national security adviser to Trump and to former vice president Mike Pence in Trump’s first term.
“I am very pleased to nominate General Keith Kellogg to serve as Assistant to the President and Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Keith has led a distinguished Military and Business career, including serving in highly sensitive National Security roles in my first Administration. He was with me right from the beginning! Together, we will secure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, and Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN!”
The choice comes after reports last week that Trump was considering Richard Grenell for the role. Grenell served as intelligence chief during Trump’s first term.
Who in Trump's team has been targeted?
More members of Trump’s cabinet have emerged as subjects of bomb threats today. So far, those known to have had their residences targeted are:
Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary and part of his transition team, whose home was threatened, Bronx outlet News 12 reported.
Lee Zeldin, the environmental protection agency pick, who saw his Long Island home threatened, News 12 in Long Island reported.
Matt Gaetz, the initial nominee for attorney general who has since withdrawn, had his Florida home targeted, various news reports said.
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, Trump’s UN ambassador choice, confirmed her home in New York was targeted.
Pete Hegseth, the defense secretary pick, whose home was targeted.
Those targeted appear to be physically safe, and law enforcement has responded to check their homes for any devices or threats, several outlets have reported.
Updated
FBI confirms bombs threats and swatting incidents
The FBI has confirmed bomb threats and swatting incidents against Trump cabinet picks.
In a statement, the agency said it is “aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees” and working with other law enforcement agencies to respond.
“We take all potential threats seriously and, as always, encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement,” the statement said.
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Fox News has welcomed the dismissal of a defamation case brought by Ray Epps, a Donald Trump supporter who became the subject of a rightwing conspiracy theory about the January 6 attack.
A Fox News Media statement referred to other dismissed lawsuits when it said: “Following the dismissals of the Jankowicz, Bobulinski, and now Epps cases, Fox News is pleased with these back-to-back decisions from federal courts preserving the press freedoms of the first amendment.”
Epps, now 63, is a former US marine and ex-member of the Oath Keepers militia who traveled from Arizona to Washington on 6 January 2021, as Trump sought to overturn his 2020 defeat by Joe Biden. Epps was eventually sentenced to probation for his role in the attack on Congress that ensued, a riot linked to nine deaths and over which Trump was impeached but acquitted.
After becoming subject to claims he was a covert government agent who stirred Trump supporters to cause trouble, Epps was forced into hiding.
At his own sentencing, Epps said: “I have learned that truth is not always found in the places that I used to trust.”
He filed suit against Fox in July last year. The suit said: “In the aftermath of the events of January 6, Fox News searched for a scapegoat to blame other than Donald Trump or the Republican party. Eventually, they turned on one of their own.”
The suit cited Fox News hosts including Laura Ingraham and Will Cain but most prominently Tucker Carlson, who it said “was bluntly telling his viewers that it was a fact that Epps was a government informant. And they believed him.”
Carlson was not a target of the suit – a lawyer for Epps said he “was an employee of Fox when he lied about Ray, and Fox broadcast those defamatory falsehoods. Fox is therefore fully liable for Mr Carlson’s statements.”
Carlson was fired by Fox in April 2023, shortly after it settled (for $787.5m) a defamation suit brought by Dominion Voting Systems over the advancement of Trump’s electoral fraud lie.
Carlson has since flourished as an independent voice in far-right media, retaining influence with Trump as the president-elect prepares to return to power in January.
Trump's Pentagon pick among several people targeted with bomb threats
Pete Hegseth, nominated to be Donald Trump’s defense secretary, was among several cabinet nominees and appointees of the president-elect who were targeted with bomb threats and so-called swatting on Wednesday, the Guardian has learned.
A report also emerged that former congressman Matt Gaetz, who was briefly Trump’s first choice for US attorney general but stood aside after eight days amid a sexual misconduct scandal, was also targeted.
A spokesperson for Trump confirmed threats against some of his cabinet picks but did not initially give any names or say how many people had received threats.
But Hegseth, the military veteran steeped in controversy over his conservative views after being selected, was understood to be among the number, according to two people familiar with the developments.
Updated
Reports by the Trump transition team that multiple Trump appointees and nominees were targeted by bomb threats and swatting comes amid a season of heightened concerns about political violence – and following two assassination attempts against Trump himself.
On 13 July, a shooter fired into the crowd during an open-air Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, injuring two attendees and killing one. Trump was grazed by the gunfire but emerged almost entirely uninjured.
Two months later, on 15 September, a suspect was caught while pointing a gun toward Trump’s Mar-a-Lago golf course, where Trump was golfing. He was apprehended the same day.
Both incidents prompted the Trump and Harris campaigns to adopt heightened security for the duration of the race. After the Pennsylvania shooting, Trump frequently appeared at rallies behind bulletproof glass.
Updated
Elise Stefanik, Trump's new UN envoy, says she was among targets
Elise Stefanik, the congresswoman and Trump’s appointee for ambassador to the United Nations, confirmed on X that there was a bomb threat at her home.
“This morning, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, her husband, and their three year old son were driving home to Saratoga County from Washington for Thanksgiving when they were informed of a bomb threat to their residence,” her X post says.
Law enforcement responded immediately, she noted, “with the highest levels of professionalism.”
Office of Chairwoman Stefanik released the following statement:
— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) November 27, 2024
“This morning, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, her husband, and their three year old son were driving home to Saratoga County from Washington for Thanksgiving when they were informed of a bomb threat to their…
Updated
Leavitt wrote that the threats transpired Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, and included bomb threats and swatting, which refers to false reports of a crime to prompt police raids on a person’s home.
Law enforcement “acted quickly,” wrote Leavitt, adding that “President Trump and the entire Transition team are grateful for their swift action.”
Leavitt did not say who specifically was targeted.
Several Trump picks targeted with bomb threats and ‘swatting’, president-elect’s campaign says
In a statement, Trump transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt wrote that “several” of Trump’s cabinet appointments had been targeted with bomb threats and swatting.
“In response, law enforcement and other authorities acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted,” wrote Leavitt.
Updated
In case you missed it, Donald Trump’s transition team is planning for appointees to receive immediate security clearances, bypassing FBI background checks when Trump takes office, per a Guardian exclusive.
Hugo Lowell reports:
Donald Trump’s transition team is planning for all political appointees to receive sweeping security clearances on the first day and only face FBI background checks after the incoming administration takes over the bureau and its own officials are installed in key positions, according to people familiar with the matter.
The move appears to mean that Trump’s team will continue to skirt FBI vetting and may not receive classified briefings until Trump is sworn in on 20 January and unilaterally grant sweeping security clearances across the administration.
Trump’s team has regarded the FBI background check process with contempt for months, a product of their deep distrust of the bureau ever since officials turned over transition records to the Russia investigation during the first Trump presidency, the people said.
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Federal employees fear doxxing and retaliation after Elon Musk posted on social media the names and titles of multiple people who hold climate-related positions but who are not public figures, CNN has reported. Musk, who will co-lead an unofficial government body seeking to reduce spending – the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) – with Vivek Ramaswamy, posted the names of the employees on X, prompting at least one of them to delete her accounts in fear of retaliation by Musk’s followers.
In a post, Hadas Gold, the author of the CNN story noted that she “was stunned when multiple experts in this field declined to speak to me on the record for fear of themselves becoming a target of Elon Musk.”
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Also in Trump transition news: last night Trump announced he had nominated John Phelan, an investor and GOP megadonor who contributed to the Trump 2024 campaign, to be secretary of the Navy.
“John will be a tremendous force for our Naval Servicemembers, and a steadfast leader in advancing my America First vision,” Trump wrote in a statement. “He will put the business of the U.S. Navy above all else.”
Phelan has not served in the military. His nomination follows Trump’s decision to pick Pete Hegseth, a Fox News personality and rightwing ideologue who was investigated by police for an alleged sexual assault, to serve as the secretary of defense.
Three Americans released in US-China prisoner swap
The US has negotiated the release of three Americans from Chinese custody in a prisoner swap. It’s a diplomatic win for the Biden administration, which has brought home more than 70 formerly imprisoned Americans abroad in the last four years, according to Politico, which first reported the exchange.
The Americans, Mark Swidan, Kai Li and John Leung, will be transferred to a medical facility for health screening.
The negotiations follow the high-profile release of numerous Americans from Russian custody, including the Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.
Updated
Trump also named several high level health officials to serve in his next cabinet.
Jim O’Neill was nominated to serve as Health and Human Services (HHS) deputy under Robert F Kennedy Jr, who was picked to lead the department. O’Neill previously served in the HHS department under George W Bush, before working in Silicon valley, where he invested in several business ventures with PayPal chief executive Peter Thiel.
“[O’Neill] will oversee all operations and improve Management, Transparency, and Accountability to, Make America Healthy Again,” said Trump in a statement. '
Jay Bhattacharya, a physician and Stanford professor, was picked to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a major critic of the US government’s response to Covid-19, including lockdowns during the virus’s peak. He later published a paper in October 2020 arguing that those who are less vulnerable to the virus should resume normal life.
Trump has continued to build out his cabinet as concerns about his transition intensify.
Late Tuesday, Trump tapped Jamieson Greer, a lawyer who worked under Trump’s previous trade representative Robert Lighthizer, to serve as the next trade representative.
If confirmed, Greer would oversee the trade deficit and work to expand “export markets everywhere”, Trump said in a statement. Greer would likely oversee the implementation of Trump’s plans to levy tariffs on Mexica, China and Canada.
On Greer, Trump said: “Jamieson played a key role during my First Term in imposing Tariffs on China and others to combat unfair Trade practices, and replacing the failed NAFTA deal with USMCA, therefore making it much better for American Workers.”
The MOU was supposed to be signed weeks ago, before the election. Trump has already indicated he will sidestep standard transition processes, including, The Guardian has reported, by issuing security clearances to appointees without requiring FBI background checks.
In refusing to sign a transition agreement with the DOJ regarding FBI background checks, the incoming Trump administration stands to forgo access to classified information from Biden administration officials. Lawmakers have already raised concerns about key Trump appointees avoiding the standard security clearance process – which will likely arise during senate confirmation hearings early next year.
Concerns raised over possible 'corruption' in Trump transition process
Good morning, US politics blog readers. US senator Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts, blasted an agreement announced between Donald Trump’s transition team and the Joe Biden White House last night as failing “to answer key questions about national security threats and FBI vetting of nominees”, thereby increasing “concerns about corruption”.
We’ll have more details and also cover all the other politics news today, as it happens. Here’s what’s afoot:
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the incoming Trump and outgoing Biden administrations outlining some terms of the transfer of power departs from the norm in a few key ways, which is raising eyebrows on Washington.
The Trump team said the transition will be privately funded and will not utilize “government buildings or technology [...] and will operate as a self-sufficient organization.”
Susie Wiles, Trump’s incoming chief of staff said the transition team “has an existing ethics plan”, which she said would be uploaded to the General Services Administration website.
Warren called Trump’s use of private funds “nothing more than a ploy for well-connected Trump insiders to line their pockets while pretending to save taxpayers money.” She expressed “concerns of corruption”.
There is a fresh flurry of Trump appointments. Among those announced last night were John Phelan, an investor and Trump campaign donor, as his pick for secretary of the Navy, and Jay Bhattacharya, a Stanford University health researcher who opposed Covid-19 lockdowns, to head the National Institutes of Health.
