President-elect Donald Trump’s team announced on Tuesday a markedly unconventional approach to the presidential transition process, signaling a departure from established norms and raising immediate questions about transparency and access to crucial government resources. This announcement, made by incoming White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, outlines a plan that significantly differs from previous transitions, particularly in its handling of funding, ethics, and cooperation with the outgoing Biden administration.
Wiles revealed that the Trump team will deploy “landing teams” to various federal departments and agencies. These teams will begin the process of preparing for the transition of power, a critical step in ensuring a smooth handover of governmental responsibilities. While this initiative appears routine on the surface, the method and context significantly diverge from precedent. The Guardian reported Wiles as stating, “After completing the selection process of his incoming cabinet, president-elect Trump is entering the next phase of his administration’s transition. This engagement allows our intended cabinet nominees to begin critical preparations.” However, the accompanying memorandum of understanding with the Biden administration appears significantly scaled back compared to previous agreements.
Typically, the presidential transition process includes a formal agreement that unlocks up to $7.2 million in federal funds to cover staffing costs and other essential expenses. This funding, along with access to government office space facilitated by the nonpartisan General Services Administration (GSA), is crucial for a well-organized transfer of power. Furthermore, the agreement usually mandates the disclosure of donors and imposes a $5,000 limit on individual contributions. Critically, the signing of such a memorandum typically occurs months before the presidential election, allowing ample time for preparation.
This year’s agreement deviates sharply from this norm. The Trump team, while pledging to disclose donor identities and reject foreign contributions, has indicated that the entire transition operation will be privately financed, eliminating reliance on federal funds. Wiles clarified that the team has its own ethics plan, independent of the official government plan, raising uncertainty about whether all transition aides will receive full government briefings, including classified information, usually provided as part of the standard transition process. The Trump team’s negotiation of its own language for restrictions further highlights this departure from tradition.
The Trump administration’s reluctance to engage fully with the formal transition process has roots in his first term, according to sources. Concerns about the potential release of transition team records to investigators related to the Russia investigation during the first Trump administration seem to be influencing the current strategy. This decision to eschew typical transition practices follows a pattern established in previous power transfers. In 2016, while initially adhering to a standard process, Trump subsequently dismissed his transition team’s leadership and severed communication with the Obama administration. Similarly, in 2020, he actively pressured the GSA to delay recognition of Biden’s victory, effectively hindering the Biden team’s access to vital federal resources and support.
This current approach marks a continuation of Trump’s history of unconventional handling of presidential transitions, raising concerns among political observers about the potential impact on the smooth transfer of power and the overall efficiency of government operations during the changeover period. The lack of federal funding and the independent ethics plan suggest a departure from established procedures that may have long-term implications for the functioning of the new administration.
