71 days until inauguration, and Trump-appointed GSA Administrator Emily Murphy has shown no interest in affirming President-elect Joe Biden’s decisive electoral college and popular vote victory — obstructing an incoming administration that will be tasked with confronting the deadliest pandemic in a hundred years.
Murphy’s refusal to formally certify Biden as the victor is receiving pushback from figures across the political spectrum, who agree that any delay in the transition will obstruct the new administration from taking decisive action early on.
Democrats, Republicans And Nonpartisans Condemned The GSA For Refusing To Certify Biden’s Victory, Reiterate That The Election Is Over
- David Shulkin, Former Trump Administration Secretary Of Veterans Affairs: “We Have 73 Days Left And You Can’t Afford To Lose Any Of Those Days.” “‘We have 73 days left and you can’t afford to lose any of those days,’ said DAVID SHULKIN, Trump’s former Secretary of Veterans Affairs, who went through the Obama-to-Trump transition while serving as a VA official during the Obama administration. ‘I don’t think most Americans recognize the vulnerability the country is in during this period when 4,000 plus appointees leave their jobs on January 20th and you have 4,000 new people who are still learning their agencies.’” [Politico Transition Playbook, 11/9/20]
- David J. Barram, Former Head Of The GSA (1996-2000): “The Winner Is Pretty Clear.” “DAVID J. BARRAM, the head of GSA from 1996 to 2000, said this week that the situation is ‘dramatically different’ from 2000. ‘The winner is pretty clear,’ he said on the podcast ‘Transition Lab.’ He added: ‘I have confidence in [GSA Administrator] Emily [Murphy] to do the right thing.” [Politico Transition Playbook, 11/9/20]
- Former Bush Chief Of Staff Josh Bolten And Former Bush Administration Health And Human Services Secretary Michael Leavit Urged The Trump Administration To Immediately Begin The Post-Election Transition Process. “The statement was signed by veterans of Democratic and Republican administrations, including former Bush chief of staff Josh Bolten and former Bush administration Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt. ‘While there will be legal disputes requiring adjudication, the outcome is sufficiently clear that the transition process must now begin,’ the statement said, adding, ‘We urge the Trump administration to immediately begin the post-election transition process and the Biden team to take full advantage of the resources available under the Presidential Transition Act.’” [NBC News, 11/10/20]
- Senator Mitt Romney (R-Utah): “We Have A National Interest In The Transition Proceeding As Rapidly As Can Be Done.” “On Capitol Hill, Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, who congratulated Biden on his victory, was asked if the GSA should finalize the election. ‘Yeah, they should. There’s a very likely prospect that there will be a change in administration and for the purposes of smooth transition and national security, we have a national interest in the transition proceeding as rapidly as can be done.’” [NBC News, 11/10/20]
- Chris Lu, Executive Director Of President Barack Obama’s 2008 Transition, Argued That Cooperation Between Outgoing And Incoming Administrations Was Especially Critical During A Public Health Crisis And An Economic Recession. Chris Lu, who led President Barack Obama’s transition in 2008, said: ‘Close cooperation between the outgoing and incoming administrations is always important, but it’s especially critical when the country is facing a public health crisis and an economic recession.’ ‘It’s time for Donald Trump to put the national interest above his political interest,’ he added.” [NBC News, 11/10/20]
- Max Stier, President And Chief Executive Of The Nonpartisan Partnership For Public Service: “The Transition Process Is Fundamental To Safely Making Sure The Next Team Is Ready To Go On Day One.” “The transition process is fundamental to safely making sure the next team is ready to go on Day One,” said Max Stier, president and chief executive of the nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service, which has set up a presidential transition center and shares advice with the Biden and Trump teams. ‘It’s critical that you have access to the agencies before you put your people in place.’” [Washington Post, 11/8/20]
- Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D-Va.) On GSA Administrator Emily Murphy Refusing To Certify Biden’s Victory: “Her Action Now Has To Be Condemned.” “‘Her action now has to be condemned,’ said Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D-Va.), who leads a House oversight panel on federal operations. ‘It’s behavior that is consistent with her subservience to wishes of the president himself, and it is clearly harmful to the orderly transition of power.’” [Washington Post, 11/8/20]
- Leslie Dach, Senior Counselor At The Department of Health and Human Services In The Obama Administration: “I Think This Is Trump Sending A Clear Signal To Everybody Still Standing In The Administration That You’ve Got To Still Follow His Grievances.” “Leslie Dach, who was to lead the transition for the Department of Health and Human Services had Hillary Clinton won the presidency in 2016, said that despite the advance work done by Mr. Biden’s team during the campaign, nothing could supplant having direct access to agencies, and that is impossible without Ms. Murphy. ‘I think this is Trump sending a clear signal to everybody still standing in the administration that you’ve got to still follow his grievances,’ Mr. Dach said.” [New York Times, 11/9/20]