After a significant delay, President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team has finally signed a memorandum of understanding with the White House. This agreement allows for the incoming administration to coordinate with federal agencies and access necessary resources for the transition process, such as personnel and documents. The signing of the memo comes after missed deadlines and criticism from former officials, ethics experts, and lawmakers.
The agreement also required Trump to publicly post his ethics plan for the transition team, which was uploaded on the General Services Administration website. However, Trump’s team did not sign an agreement with the GSA or the Justice Department, which would have provided additional resources and allowed for background checks on Cabinet nominees, respectively.
Despite the missed deadlines and lack of agreements with the GSA and Justice Department, the White House stated that they will still facilitate a smooth transition for the incoming administration. While they do not agree with Trump’s decisions, they believe it is in the best interest of the American people to follow the purpose of the Presidential Transition Act to avoid any disruptions that could be detrimental to the safety and wellbeing of the United States and its people.
Overall, the signing of the memorandum of understanding is a crucial step in the transition process, allowing for preparations to begin and ensuring a smooth handover of power to the new administration.
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