Biden accuses Trump of hampering the transition proceedings

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• President-elect Joe Biden criticizes Trump for getting rid of key national security team members, which had affected the transition procedure between the incoming and outgoing administration.
• Reports indicate that appointees in the Defense Department have ordered staff members to withhold information about the recent cyberattacks in the U.S.
• Trump has yet to concede to incoming president Joe Biden over his election loss.

On Monday afternoon, incoming president Joe Biden accused the Trump administration of intentionally cleaning up crucial policy teams that manage national security and defense, adding that it had tarnished America’s international leadership role, and making the transition process more challenging.

During a public address at the Queen Theater in Wilmington, Del., Biden also said that the agencies have been damaged by Trump’s actions, affecting not only the personnel but as well the morale and capability of the group.  

Biden went on and said the Trump administration obstructing his transition team, specifically in defense policy matters. The former vice president called these alleged stickups as an impediment from the departing administration, saying that his team is not getting enough information about crucial national security matters.

Latest reports show that key political appointees in the Defense Department were ordering employees to hold back critical data such as intelligence information relating to the current massive cyberattack on SolarWinds from the Biden transition team.

Biden has recently expressed frustration on the White House’s limited transparency when it comes to SolarWinds.

Responding to the comments, the Department of Defense said the allegations by Biden saying that his team came across blockades from both the Office of Management and Budget and Defense Department are baseless.

Meanwhile, President Trump hasn’t conceded to his election loss against Biden, even though officials close to him are making discreet acceptance and resignations. The president, concealed at his Florida Mar-a-Lago estate, has been generally quiet in the last few days.

Before Biden’s comments, he and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris discussed with national security and defense advisers. He was reportedly advised that his administration should re-establish diplomatic relations with other ally nations who seemed to have lost trust in the leadership of America.

Biden also remarked about the Christmas Day bombing in Nashville, admiring the responders’ efforts, saying that he is thankful for the first five police officers who went to the scene.

Source: AOL