The GSA is the agency that approves the money an incoming President-Elect gets to fund the hand off of one admin to the incoming one….
In this case the stated issue in the money involved for the number of people involved which could grow to several hundred people incoming across the government departments …
But one should suspect it REALLY isn’t about the money….
The Biden campaign probably has more than $100 million in the bank….
The goal is probably to get the GSA head to declare that Joe Biden IS the President-Elect something Trump & Co have advised they will NOT DO….
The GSA boss IS a trusted Thump supporter….
The latest is a threat from Biden’s lawyer to go ‘legal’ on this….
President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team is mulling legal action over the General Services Administration’s (GSA) delay in recognizing his projected win, which is delaying transition work, Reuters and Axios reported on Monday.
A Biden transition official told reporters on a call Monday that the GSA needed to grant an ascertainment to recognize the former vice president as the president-elect, adding that the team would consider legal action if the agency did not do so.
The GSA’s delay prevents Biden’s team from accessing millions of federal dollars that would pay for salaries, consultants and travel as well as the ability to meet with current government officials, including those in intelligence.
“Legal action is certainly a possibility, but there are other options as well that we’re considering,” the official said, according to Reuters.
“There’s a number of levers on the table and all options are certainly available,” the official told reporters, according to Axios, calling the situation “certainly rather fluid.”
The Biden campaign and the GSA did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment.
The GSA typically recognizes a presidential candidate when it’s clear who won the election to begin the transition of power.
But a GSA spokesperson told The Hill earlier Monday that Administrator Emily Murphy, who was appointed by Trump, is waiting to see that “a winner is clear.”
“An ascertainment has not yet been made. GSA and its Administrator will continue to abide by, and fulfill, all requirements under the law,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
The potential legal action comes after Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential race on Saturday by several media outlets….
Update…
This is coming under more and MORE pressure…..
The General Services Administration is not expected to affirm that JOE BIDEN won the presidential race until at least Friday and perhaps much later, as they wait for states to complete their vote counts and conduct recounts. That, at least, is what White House chief of staff MARK MEADOWS and other aides to President DONALD TRUMP are telling people in the executive branch, according to two Trump White House officials…
image…Politico
FIRST IN TRANSITION PLAYBOOK:The government watchdog group Accountable.US, which is funded by progressive donors and foundations, is starting a Senate War Room to pressure lawmakers to quickly approve Biden’s nominees to ensure that he has a well-staffed administration. The campaign will include opposition research, digital messaging and rapid response efforts, a spokesperson for the group said.
“We agree with Mitch McConnell and will hold him to his word that a new president should have their Cabinet nominees confirmed in a timely fashion,” said KYLE HERRIG, president of Accountable.US, in a statement. “Donald Trump may no longer be president come January 20, but the public health and economic crisis he leaves behind will require the complete attention of our new president and a fully staffed cabinet and government.”….
More…
Oooo!
How about these apples!?
stuart stevens@stuartpstevens
If Trump will not release legal transition funds, there is no reason for the House to approve post-presidency funds for Trump and his family.
Great idea.
Stevens also said that if Bidens election is “illegitimate “ as Trump claims,then none of these newly elected Republicans in the House should be seated either as their election May be “illegitimate.”
More on the informal transition efforts going forward….
Not moving forward, Biden officials argue, could have national security implications because the incoming administration would be ill-equipped to handle current threats facing the country.
“There are a number of legal options,” a Biden transition official said, declining to be more specific.
With formal transition resources out of reach at the moment, Biden officials are informally talking to people in and out of government to understand what lies ahead at federal agencies.
A senior member of the Biden transition team said members have drawn up a contingency plan in case the Trump administration refuses to engage with the Biden representatives. As part of the plan, the Biden team has made lists of recently departed senior officials at key agencies who are well-versed in issues facing various corners of the government — and could help incoming officials get up to speed….
More…