WH: Transition work with Trump team on hold
The White House says Vice President-elect Mike Pence has yet to sign a key document governing the presidential transition, prompting a delay in the process of turning over power to President-elect Donald Trump.
{mosads}New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who formerly served as Trump’s transition chief, had signed a memorandum of understanding to kick off transition work as soon as the election was over.
But Christie was abruptly replaced last Friday by Pence, causing a temporary pause in the process.
“We are now in the process of working with the new transition team chair, Vice President-elect Mike Pence, to sign the memorandum of understanding, which governs the process by which transition officials work with current administration staff,” White House spokeswoman Brandi Hoffine said in response to questions about the leadership change.
Until the memorandum is signed, Trump’s so-called landing teams, tasked with implementing his policies, will not be able to access federal agency employees or documents for an update on their projects.
The memorandum is required under federal law.
While the delay is likely to be temporary, Trump’s team cannot afford a significant holdup in preparing to take over the federal government, which will happen in just 66 days.
The development comes amid a broader shakeup of Trump’s transition team over the past several days.
Former House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), a Christie ally, left the team on Tuesday.
Other people close to Christie have been removed from or reshuffled on the transition staff, according to media reports.
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