President-elect Trump's transition team announced Tuesday that it has agreed to a memorandum of understanding with President Biden that will allow both sides to formally begin the transition.
“After completing the selection process for his next Cabinet, President-elect Trump has entered into the next phase of the transition by entering into a memorandum of understanding with President Joe Biden's White House,” Trump Chief of Staff Susie Wiles said in a statement. It was announced in the press. release.
“This initiative will allow Cabinet nominees to begin important preparations, including the deployment of landing teams to all departments, to complete an orderly transition of power.”
The press release goes on to say that in order to “consistent with President Trump's pledge to save taxpayers' hard-earned money,” the transition “will not utilize taxpayer funds for transition-related costs.” He explained.
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President Biden and President-elect Trump shake hands during a meeting in the Oval Office at the White House on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The press release added that the transition will be “streamlined” and will “operate as a self-sustaining organization” with “security and information protection” already built-in and will not require “additional government bureaucratic oversight.” .
The transition team also said there is an “existing” ethics plan in place that will be posted on the General Services Administration's website.
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Former President Trump brings Susie Wiles to the stage during the Election Night Watch Party in West Palm Beach, Florida on November 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
“Transitional landing teams will quickly integrate directly into federal agencies and departments with access to documents and policy sharing,” the press release states. “Pursuant to the agreement, the members of the landing team will be disclosed to the Biden administration during the transition period.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
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President Biden speaks at the Dundalk Marine Terminal in Baltimore. (Getty Images)
President Trump has come under fire from Democratic critics in recent weeks for not agreeing to the memorandum sooner. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.; sent a letter Last week, GSA criticized the president-elect.
The signing of the document means the government will be able to provide security clearances and briefings to incoming administration officials, and the FBI will be able to review Mr. Trump's nominations to Cabinet and other key positions. The agreement also provides for “office space, IT equipment, office supplies, vehicles, postal administration, compensation and other expense payments,” according to GSA.
This process is intended to uncover personal issues, criminal history, and other potential red flags that may raise questions about a candidate's suitability for the principal job.
Fox News Digital's Greg Norman contributed to this report
