President-elect Donald Trump has reached an agreement with President Joe Biden's White House to allow his transition staff to coordinate with the federal workforce before taking office on Jan. 20. This congressionally mandated agreement permits transition aides to work with federal agencies, access non-public information, and allows government workers to communicate with the transition team.
However, Trump has not signed a separate agreement with the General Services Administration, which would grant his team access to secure government offices and email accounts. This decision is partly due to the requirement that the president-elect limit contributions to $5,000 and disclose donors to his transition effort.
The White House agreement, which was supposed to be signed by Oct. 1 as per the Presidential Transition Act, is crucial for ensuring an orderly transfer of power on Inauguration Day. It enables the sharing of details on ongoing programs, operations, and threats between the outgoing and incoming administrations, reducing the risk of the incoming team assuming control without necessary briefings and documents.
As part of the agreement, Trump's team must disclose its ethics plan for the transition operation, commit to upholding it, and confirm no financial positions that could pose conflicts of interest. Biden raised the agreement during a meeting with Trump, and efforts are underway to finalize it.
The Trump transition team has pledged to disclose donors publicly and not accept foreign donations. A separate agreement with the Department of Justice to coordinate background checks for vetting and security clearances is being actively worked on.
While the White House disagrees with Trump's decision to forgo GSA support, alternate methods are being explored to provide necessary information to Trump appointees without compromising national security. Federal agencies are receiving guidance on sharing sensitive information with the Trump team, including in-person meetings and document reviews for unclassified information.
