WASHINGTON (Reuters) – US President Biden and President-elect Trump have not yet begun the formal transition process. The process usually takes months and involves the executive branch dividing everything from foreign policy to ongoing investigations by officials in the new administration.
Mr Trump, who will be inaugurated as president on January 20, has not signed a series of transition documents with Mr Biden, so officials from 15 government agencies, including the Treasury Department, Department of State, Department of Energy, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Transportation, to transfer to the next administration I cannot explain the situation to my team.
The situation could disrupt government operations, and some have questioned whether Trump-appointed officials can clear ethical hurdles.
Here’s what we know about the current situation:
This will give the president’s team access to national security briefings and access to federal agencies to begin the complex process of preparing to run the federal government beginning January 20.
The Trump campaign has so far not signed two memorandums of understanding with the General Services Administration and the White House that are required by law to begin the transition.
The agreement with the GSA provides the transition team with an office, IT services and more, and the agreement with the White House gives the transition team access to federal agency personnel and materials.
Under the Transition of Power Act, the agreement also includes strict ethics rules. Mr. Trump and his transition team must pledge to avoid conflicts of interest after taking office.
Under a 1963 law governing transition funding, Trump’s transition team had to submit an ethics pledge by October 1.
Two people familiar with the move said progress is slow because Mr. Trump does not want to be forced out of his business.
Trump transition team officials privately drafted their own ethics document and conflict of interest statement for staff, sources said.
The document does not meet legal requirements and does not include language explaining how Trump will deal with conflicts of interest during his term.
Not signing the document also means he doesn’t have to reveal the names of private donors who are funding the move and can raise unlimited funds to help him return to the White House. The transfer law requires donors to disclose their names and caps donations at $5,000.
The transition team has repeatedly said that Trump intended to sign the document, but the priority is to select and vet candidates, and it is unclear when he will sign the document. promise
The transition team said all employees signed a strict ethics pledge as a condition of participation.
The US federal government’s annual budget of about $7 trillion is funded by taxpayers, and several lawmakers say federal employees should not use their position or influence in a way that beneficial to them, their companies, or their families.
Congress changed the law in 2019 to require presidential candidates to publish ethics plans before elections. This bipartisan legislation came out of concerns about ethics during the first Trump administration.
Ethics experts say the president is exempt from conflict of interest laws because he oversees so many areas where enforcement is impossible. This system assumes that the president makes a serious effort to separate his own interests from the interests of the country when he takes office.
But that norm was questioned this year when the Supreme Court ruled that Trump could not be prosecuted for official actions he took within his constitutional authority during his first term in office.
Trump owns $3.76 billion worth of shares in Trump Media, as well as investments in cryptocurrency businesses, real estate and overseas businesses.
Today, his son Eric runs a real estate company that owns hotels, golf courses, resorts, offices, retail businesses, and condominiums in New York City.
Trump’s transition team has not signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Justice that would allow the FBI to conduct background checks on cabinet nominees and others, nor has it released the names of national security nominees. to the FBI with access to classified information No , one of the people said.
There are some reports that the transition government is using private companies to vet nominees, leaving the possibility that the federal judiciary will not properly vet President Trump’s appointees.
During his first term in office in 2017, Trump placed his business interests in a trust under the control of his two sons, a move that removed conflicts of interest from his presidential decisions.
However, he has been repeatedly criticized by the Office of Government Ethics for a conflict of interest related to his business and brand.
Trump could run his administration with little ethical guidance in his second four-year term, making conflicts of interest more likely. There are also fears that foreign companies and others may try to influence Trump and his policies by making large investments in his businesses.
During Trump’s first term, governments in at least 20 countries, including Saudi Arabia and China, spent more than $7.8 million on Trump’s hotels and golf courses, according to a report sent by Democratic law together.
Public trust in government hit a 60-year low under Trump, with only 17% of Americans believing the government will do the right thing, according to a Pew Research Center survey.
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2024-11-26 10:22:00
** How might the current political climate and public perception of Trump’s actions affect the willingness of qualified individuals to serve in his administration during the remaining weeks, potentially hindering the transition process further?**
## World-Today-News Interview: “Trump’s Reluctance and the Looming Transition Crisis”
**Introduction:**
**Host:** Welcome to World-Today-News. Today, we delve into the turbulent waters of the presidential transition process, currently thrown into disarray by President Trump’s refusal to officially acknowledge Biden’s victory. We’ll be joined by two distinguished guests:
**[Name of Guest 1]** – a constitutional law expert specializing in Presidential transitions, and
**[Name of Guest 2]** – a political commentator with extensive experience analyzing Donald Trump’s actions and their impact.
Let’s dive into this critical moment for American democracy.
***
**Section 1: The Unprecedented Delay & Implications**
* **Host:** [Guest 1] Let’s start with the basics – how unusual is this delay compared to previous transitions? What are the potential repercussions of this unprecedented hesitancy in a country supposedly built on peaceful transitions of power?
* **Guest 1:** [Responds, potentially mentioning historical parallels, legal precedent, and the dangers of a power vacuum]
* **Host:** [Guest 2], you’ve followed Trump’s political career closely. What do you make of his reluctance to start the transition process? What message does this send to both the American people and the international community?
* **Guest 2:** [Responds, drawing on their expertise and insights into Trump’s political tactics and motivations]
**Section 2: Ethical Quandaries & Conflicts of Interest:**
* **Host:** The article raises critical concerns about ethics and potential conflicts of interest stemming from Trump’s refusal to separate himself from his businesses.
[Guest 1], can you shed some light on how existing legal frameworks attempt to address these conflicts during a presidential transition?
* **Guest 1:** [Responds, explaining relevant laws like the Transition of Power Act and the Ethics in Government Act. Potentially highlight weaknesses or loopholes in these laws.]
* **Host:** [Guest 2], Trump has repeatedly demonstrated a disregard for norms and traditions. How do you see this impacting his potential reappointment process? Could this pave the way for further blurring the line between personal gain and public interest?
* **Guest 2:** [Responds]
**Section 3: National Security & Public Trust: **
* **Host:** One particularly concerning aspect highlighted in the article is the delay in allowing the FBI to vet potential appointees for national security clearance.
[Guest 1], what are the implications of this delay, especially in today’s geopolitical climate?
* **Guest 1:** [Responds, emphasizing the importance of national security vetting and potential risks associated with bypassing established procedures.]
* **Host:**
[Guest 2], during Trump’s first term, we saw several instances of foreign governments patronizing Trump’s businesses. How might this delay and lack of transparency further erode public trust in his administration, both domestically and internationally?
* **Guest 2:** [Responds, potentially drawing parallels to past instances and discussing the wider ramifications for America’s global standing.]
**Conclusion:**
**Host:** We’ve unpacked some critically important issues today. As we head towards the January inauguration, what are your final thoughts on this extraordinary situation?
**[Guest responses]:**
*
**Closing Remarks:****
* **Host:** This has been a fascinating and, frankly, concerning discussion. Thank you both for your insights. We encourage our viewers to stay informed and engaged in the unfolding events surrounding this historic transition.
**Note:**
* This is just a sample outline and can be fully customized based on the length of the interview and specific areas the host and guests want to explore in more depth.
* Encourage a respectful and balanced dialog even when discussing potentially contentious topics.
* Ensure a diverse range of viewpoints is presented, inviting healthy debate and informing the viewers.
