Biden administration beings presidential transition

Despite President Trump’s objection to the results of his loss in the 2020 general election to the Democrat President-elect Joe Biden, the Trump Administration has granted permission for Biden to being the presidential transition process. The head of the General Services Administration, Emily Murphy, announced that the Trump administration has officially granted permission for Biden to begin the transition process.

According to the official statement from the U.S. General Services Administration addressed to Biden states that he will be given access to post-election resources and services to help with the presidential transition. The statement letter also addresses the danger that Murphy faces due to the presidential transition.

Here's the full letter from Murphy to Biden: pic.twitter.com/DJ4SFLzrfP

— Jeremy Herb (@jeremyherb) November 23, 2020

Murphy discloses in the statement letter, “I did not receive any direction to delay my determination. I did however receive threats online, by phone, and mail directed at my safety, my family, my staff, and even my pets in an effort to coerce me into making this determination prematurely. Even in the face of thousands of threats, I always remained committed to upholding the law.”

This letter from Murphy is the formal sign off on Biden’s victory and starts the perfunctory process known as ascertainment. The next move in this transition will start by permitting current administration officials to coordinate with the incoming Biden staff including $6.3 million in government funding for a smooth transition.

Though the transition is in the work, Biden is already starting his work so he is ready to make much-needed reforms by his first official day in office. The ascertainment will allow Biden’s staff access to government data and can officially work with federal agencies.

The Biden administration will have access to COVID-19 data to develop vaccine distribution plans. Biden’s team will also have access to additional office facilities within agencies and federal resources for background checks for White House Cabinet picks and staff appointments.

Transition officials will start meeting with federal officials for pandemic response and having a full account of national security interests. The transition officials will also be looking into the efforts of the Trump administration to hollow out government agencies.

The ascertainment letter was sent on Monday following the confirmation of formally certified election results for Michigan, Georgia, and Pennsylvania is close to confirming certification of election results. This official transition marks the beginning of the Biden administration and the end of the Trump administration.