Democrats Demand Briefing Over Trump Administration Delay In Starting Presidential Transition

The GSA on Monday offered Deputy Administrator Allison Brigati for a briefing next week, which Democrats quickly responded to Monday afternoon demanding a briefing from GSA Administrator Emily Murphy on Tuesday.

In their letter to Murphy, Democrats wrote that another week is too long to wait for answers, saying every “wasted” day is a day the “safety, health and well-being of the American people is imperiled” because the administration is blocked from access to information on the coronavirus response effort, the economic crisis and national security. 

They wrote that, as the first letter requesting a briefing by Monday also indicated, the briefing will act as the first step in their efforts to determine whether to call Murphy and other GSA executives to testify on why the agency hasn’t started the transition process mandated by the Presidential Transition Act of 1963.

Murphy is required to start the process as soon as she has “ascertained” the apparent winner, and the lawmakers said there is “no valid legal basis” for not starting the process because Biden has won the popular vote and Electoral College by a significant margin. 

As members of the House’s Oversight and Reform and Appropriations committees, they have the authority to investigate agencies, including the GSA, under House Rule X. 

Forbes reached out to the GSA for comment.