GOP, Biden team raise pressure on Trump official to approve transition, citing national security, COVID-19

Joe Biden
(Image credit: Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images)

Despite tweeting Sunday that President-elect Joe Biden "won" the election, before trying to walk that back, President Trump is not conceding the race. By the end of last week, Republican senators — including close Trump allies — were publicly arguing that the administration should at least approve top-level security briefings for Biden, arguing it wouldn't end Trump's long-shot lawsuits to overturn the election results in key states. The Biden transition team is also exploring ways to get information on COVID-19 vaccine plans.

The head of the General Services Administration, Emily Murphy, has yet to "ascertain" Biden's likely victory, a typically perfunctory step that will give Biden's transition team access to federal personnel, office space, millions of dollars, and vetting services for potential Cabinet picks and other staff. The Associated Press and other news organizations projected Biden the clear winner more than a week ago.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.