150+ Former National Security Officials Highlight Dangers of Delay
Republican Elected Officials Call on Trump to Begin Transition
Health Organizations, Business Leaders, Bipartisan Groups Join Growing Chorus
The Manufacturers Association: “It Is Highly Appropriate That The Trump Administration Allow Key Individuals From The Biden Team To Access Critical Government Personnel And Information Now.”
- “The manufacturers association released a joint statement from five of its leaders appealing for the administrator to allow the transition process to begin to allow the U.S. to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and the connected economic crisis. ‘While we understand and respect the court challenges that are a part of our democratic process, it’s imperative that our nation has a President and advisors who are fully prepared to lead our nation on Inauguration Day given the magnitude of the challenges ahead and the threats to our economic and national security, and most importantly, to the public health,’ the statement reads. ‘It is highly appropriate that the Trump administration allow key individuals from the Biden team to access critical government personnel and information now,’ it continues.” [The Hill, 11/18/20]
The American Medical Association, The American Hospital Association, And The American Nurses Association Released A Letter Calling For The Trump Administration To “Work Closely With The Biden Transition Team To Share All Critical Information Related To Covid-19.”
- “In a letter released Tuesday, the CEOs of the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association and the American Nurses Association urged the Trump administration to ‘work closely with the Biden transition team to share all critical information related to Covid-19.’ ‘Real-time data and information on the supply of therapeutics, testing supplies, personal protective equipment, ventilators, hospital bed capacity and workforce availability to plan for further deployment of the nation’s assets needs to be shared to save countless lives,’ they wrote in the letter. ‘All information about the capacity of the Strategic National Stockpile, the assets from Operation Warp Speed, and plans for dissemination of therapeutics and vaccines needs to be shared as quickly as possible to ensure that there is continuity in strategic planning so that there is no lapse in our ability to care for patients.’” [NBC News, 11/17/20]
Four Former Secretaries Of Homeland Security Who Served In The Bush And Obama Administrations Called For The Transition To Begin.
- “Four former secretaries of Homeland Security who served in the Bush and Obama administrations are calling for the transition process to begin. The leader of the General Services Administration has yet to officially acknowledge Mr. Biden as the winner of the presidential election, preventing his transition team from gaining access to crucial services and funding. In a statement from former Secretaries Tom Ridge, Michael Chertoff, Janet Napolitano and Jeh Johnson, who formed the group Citizens for Strong Democracy, they said federal law allows for the transition to run alongside challenges to the election. ‘President Trump is assured the benefit of a fair process and the right to file legal challenges and request recounts in certain states, but his legal claims cannot and must not prevent the transition process from beginning,’ the former secretaries said.” [CBS News, 11/12/20]
A Group Of More Than 150 Former National Security Officials Sent A Letter Urging The GSA To Officially Recognize Joe Biden And Kamala Harris As President-Elect And Vice President-Elect.
- “In a letter sent to the General Services Administration on Thursday and obtained by POLITICO, the former officials urged the agency to officially name Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the apparent president-elect and vice president-elect so that they can access information ‘needed to address pressing national security issues, such as the President’s Daily Briefing and pending decisions on possible uses of military force.’ The letter comes as Trump continues to refuse to concede the election, resulting in the presidential transition effectively being put on hold for the first time in two decades. It was signed by 161 former officials, including former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel; former CIA and NSA Director Gen. Michael Hayden; retired Gen. Wesley Clark; former Deputy NSA Director Chris Inglis; and former U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power.” [Politico, 11/12/20]
Former Trump National Security Advisor John Bolton Said Republicans Need To “Acknowledge The Reality” That Joe Biden Is President-Elect.
- “Former national security adviser John Bolton urged congressional Republicans in a new interview to ‘acknowledge the reality’ that Joe Biden is president-elect — predicting GOP lawmakers would survive any potential backlash from President Donald Trump if they broke with him over the 2020 election results… Bolton agreed that Biden and key members of the president-elect’s team ‘should have full access to intelligence briefings.’ The ‘individual transition teams’ at the State Department, the Defense Department and national security agencies should be allowed to ‘begin their work,’ as well, Bolton said.” [Politico, 11/13/20]
The Center For Presidential Transition Urged The Trump Administration To Begin The Transition Process.
- “A nonpartisan advisory board on presidential transitions urged President Trump to begin the transition process — one day after his electoral defeat by Joe Biden. ‘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,’ the Center for Presidential Transition wrote in a Sunday letter.” [NY Post, 11/9/20]
Six Republican Senators Have Called For The Transition To Begin Or Acknowledged Biden As President-Elect.
- “So far, only a half-dozen Republican senators have backed Biden’s position that the transition should formally begin or publicly acknowledged his victory: Mitt Romney (Utah), Susan Collins (Maine), Marco Rubio (Fla.), Ben Sasse (Neb.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Jim Risch (Idaho). ‘I don’t think it would cause any harm to be helpful to the transition,’ Rubio said last week. ‘I don’t think it concedes anything,’ referring to Trump’s legal challenges to the election.” [Politico, 11/19/20]
Governor Mike DeWine (R-OH): “It’s Clear That… Joe Biden Is The President-Elect… It’s Important For A Normal Transition To Start Through.”
- “Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine Sunday urged President Donald Trump to allow the normal transition of power to his successor, President-elect Joe Biden. ‘It’s clear that, certainly, based on what we know now, that Joe Biden is the president-elect. And that transition, for the country’s sake, it’s important for a normal transition to start through,’ DeWine – a Republican like Trump – said on CNN’s ‘State of the Union.’ ‘And the president can go on his other track and his legal track. We should respect that, but we also need to begin that process.’” [Cincinnati Enquirer, 11/15/20]
Governor Asa Hutchinson (R-AR): “We Want To Make Sure That There Is A Smooth Transition, Particularly When It Comes To The Vaccine Distribution.”
- “‘It is very important that Joe Biden have access to the intelligence briefings to make sure that he is prepared,’ he said. ‘During times of transition our enemies have an opportunity to take advantage of us, and we want to make sure that there is a smooth transition, particularly when it comes to the vaccine distribution [so that] everybody understands what we’re doing there and what the plan is for the future.’” [The Hill, 11/15/20]