Trump Transition Signs Agreement with Justice Department to Facilitate Background Checks
This action also enables the completion of security clearances and background checks.
On December 3, the Trump transition team declared that it has formalized a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Biden Department of Justice to streamline background checks and security clearances for both the outgoing and incoming administrations.
“This agreement with the Department of Justice will guarantee that President Trump and his team are prepared on Day 1 to start implementing the America First agenda that a significant majority of our country supported during Election Day,” stated Susie Wiles, the incoming White House Chief of Staff.
Trump has selected former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to head the Justice Department, following the withdrawal of his first choice, former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), due to controversy surrounding his nomination.
In a recent announcement, Trump named Kash Patel as his choice to lead the FBI. Patel, a known critic of the agency, implies that the current FBI director, Chris Wray, appointed by Trump in 2017, will not continue under the new government.
Additionally, Trump has indicated that he will nominate Todd Blanche, who has defended him in various legal matters, as deputy attorney general.
Furthermore, Trump has declared his intention to nominate Dean John Sauer for solicitor general and Jay Clayton as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
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Trump has also appointed Emil Bove, who defended him in his New York legal case regarding campaign finance accusations linked to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, as principal deputy associate attorney general.
“Following the completion of his incoming Cabinet selection process, President-elect Trump is progressing to the next stage of his administration’s transition by executing a Memorandum of Understanding with President Joe Biden’s White House,” Wiles mentioned in a statement on November 26.
“This engagement allows our prospective Cabinet nominees to initiate crucial preparations, including the deployment of landing teams to all departments and agencies, ensuring an orderly transition of power.”
The incoming administration has opted not to engage the General Services Administration, which typically assists with office space, security clearances, background checks, and other logistical aspects of presidential transitions. The transition team has asserted that it has not utilized taxpayer funding.
Howard Lutnick, the president-elect’s nominee for commerce secretary, and former Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) are leading the transition team, which commenced its efforts after Trump triumphed over Vice President Kamala Harris in the November 5 election.
