### Trump's Transition Team Delays Raise Legal Concerns and Potential National Security Threats

Over two weeks after the conclusion of the 2024 election, the White House has expressed concerns that President-elect Donald Trump and his team have yet to complete the necessary legal paperwork to initiate the formal transition of power. With Trump scheduled to take the presidential oath of office in just under 60 days, the delay is causing significant unease in Washington.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre revealed on Thursday that Trump and his team, led by Susie Wiles, have not yet entered into the crucial agreements with the White House and the General Services Administration (GSA). Despite ongoing negotiations involving current White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients and Trump's incoming counterpart, the documents remain unsigned.

Last week, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts accused the Trump transition team of "breaking the law" for their failure to sign the necessary memoranda, which include mandatory ethics agreements. According to Warren, these documents are essential to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure a smooth handover of responsibilities.

Jean-Pierre emphasized Zients' proactive stance in reaching out to Trump transition co-chairs Howard Lutnick and Linda McMahon, stressing the administration's commitment to facilitating an effective transition. "We want this to go smoothly, and that's what we're trying to get to," she stated, noting that without signed documents, Trump's team is barred from accessing government resources, entering federal buildings, or communicating with current officials.

Warren's criticism highlights the importance of the legal framework established to govern presidential transitions. By September 1 and October 1, candidates are required to sign memoranda with the GSA and the federal government, respectively, laying out conditions for accessing agencies and confirming an ethics plan. As of now, neither document has been signed by Trump's team.

These legal requirements were put in place to ensure a smooth and secure transfer of power, a lesson painfully learned after the September 11, 2001, terror attacks. A commission investigating those attacks found that the delayed transition between the Clinton and Bush administrations—exacerbated by the disputed 2000 election—hindered national security by delaying the confirmation of Bush's national security team.

As negotiations continue, both sides grapple with the possibility of repeating past mistakes, potentially jeopardizing national security at a critical juncture.