Democrats in the top house want answers about the state of the president’s transition.
On Thursday, House Oversight Chair Caroline Maloney (D-NY) and Applications Committee Chairperson Nita M. Loy (D-NY), along with two other senior Democrats, Gerald Connolly (D-VA) and Mike Quigley (D-IL), General Services Administration (GSA) administrator Emily Murphy, will win the 2020 election by Monday. He was briefed on the delay in disclosure.
The GSA must officially “confirm” Biden as the next president, so that the transition curiosity begins, a move that will free the incoming president and allow his team to prepare for the transfer of power to federal agencies and briefings.
In the past, most GSA administrators have given their verdict based on media speculation, but Murphy has yet to do so, despite all the major U.S. media and Trump’s legal challenges being declared winners despite failing in court.
“Your actions in blocking the transition activities required by law are having a serious impact, undermining the systematic transfer of power, undermining the administration’s ability to respond to the coronavirus epidemic, hampering our nation’s ability to cope with a severe economic crisis, and our national risk. Security, ”the delegation wrote a letter to Murphy on Thursday.
The White House has denied pressure on Murphy to suspend the assessment. But the House Democrats said in their letter that if that was indeed true, then Murphy “should abide by the law and make a determination without further delay.” He added that the briefing would help him decide whether Murphy or other GSA leaders would have to testify before Congress.
GSA did not return Vox’s request for comment.
This pressure from the House Democrats is the latest issue of pressure on the GSA to start the transition. Former national security officials have spoken out about how delays in the transition – especially the fact that President-elect Biden is not given intelligence – could harm U.S. security.
Former public health officials and medical experts have also urged the GSA to begin the transition, warning that continued delays could jeopardize the next administration’s Covid-19 response and preparations for vaccine deliveries that endanger American lives.
After most presidential elections – George W. With the exception of the 2000 election that was fought between Bush and Al Gore – GSA executives have confirmed the president coming soon after the so-called race news outlets and accepted the losing candidate.
In 2011, for example, Trump was elected the day after the election, although his lead is much lower than Biden’s, he is in 2020. Trump has not conceded defeat and is pursuing legal challenges, but nothing in the determination process is preventing the GSA from announcing the potential winner. Bid and start the transition process when Trump fights him in court.
But while congressional Democrats have demanded that the transition formally begin, Republicans are a little more reluctant. Sen retiring this year. Said Lamar Alexander (R-TN) In a statement on Friday “If Biden is likely to be the next president, and he seems to have a very good chance, the Trump administration should provide the Biden team with all the transition materials, resources and meetings to ensure the transition. Be ready. “
Sen. Jim Lanknford (R-OKK), who said last week that he saw “nothing wrong” with Biden receiving intelligence, said this week that Biden should continue to receive the briefing he received as a candidate, but not a high-level presidential brief. He said he spoke to the GSA, but the GSA was able to decide that “there is no way” because “the GSA is not a voter.”
But, again, The fact is that voters did not plan presidential transitions, including 2016, before they formally voted.
Biden’s transition team, meanwhile, has tried to move forward with readiness to take office in January, even without the cooperation of the Trump administration. This week, Byden held a meeting with state leaders on how to better coordinate the federal and state response to Covid-19. He also received national security briefings from former officials – although this is not the same as a threat briefing given by US intelligence agencies.
