President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team has finally signed a memorandum of understanding with the White House after missing deadlines, allowing for coordination with federal agencies. The agreement allows for access to resources provided by the federal government, such as personnel and documents from federal agencies. The failure to sign the agreements in October prompted criticism from former officials and lawmakers. The top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee warned that the lack of agreements could imperil a smooth transition of power. Trump’s team did not sign an agreement with the General Services Administration, opting to operate as a “self-sufficient organization.” The White House expressed disagreement with this decision but emphasized the importance of a smooth transition for the American people. Trump’s ethics plan and promise to avoid conflicts of interest have been posted publicly as part of the agreement with the White House. However, his team has also not signed an agreement with the Justice Department, which would allow the FBI to conduct background checks on Cabinet nominees. Requests for comment from the Justice Department were not immediately answered.
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