Trump official refuses to sign paperwork initiating transition to a Biden-led administration

The Trump appointee in charge of initiating the formal transition to a Joe Biden-led administration has so far rejected to sign off on the needed paperwork to initiate the process, increasing concerns over whether there will be a quiet transfer of power.

Emily Murphy was charged by President Trump to head the General Services Administration, the agency in charge of federal buildings.

By law, if a new president is elected, the GSA administrator is obligated to sign paperwork that formally hands over millions of dollars to the transition team of the incoming administration, formally launching the handover process.

The transition team is also given access to government officials, office space in agencies, and equipment.

The spokesperson added: ‘America’s national security and economic interests depend on the federal government signaling clearly and swiftly that the United States government will respect the will of the American people and engage in a smooth and peaceful transfer of power.’

The Presidential Transition Act of 1963 is the law which governs the process by which an incoming administration gradually assumes the reins of power.

It states that a candidate becomes ‘president-elect’ when the GSA administration – in this case, Murphy – ascertains that it is ‘apparent’ they have won a majority of electoral college votes.