Press Releases

Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), who led the Obama Administration’s transition at the Commerce Department in 2008, issued the following statement today on General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Emily Murphy’s letter initiating a presidential transition between outgoing President Donald Trump and President-elect Joe Biden:

“It is good for the country that Administrator Murphy finally ascertained President-elect Biden’s victory in the 2020 election and at long last began the transition, but her delay was costly and unnecessary. I fear the precedent may do lasting harm, but it cannot be undone.

“Donald Trump should follow the valued tradition established by his predecessors and issue a concession, but whether or not he does, we have very important work to do right away. Trump still retains significant power to hinder the incoming administration and an obvious willingness to sabotage his successor on his way out the door with policy announcements and additional attacks on the civil service.

“Now that the initial steps have been taken to begin a transition, the Biden transition can press forward in its efforts to respond to the pandemic and economic crisis, and to assess the damage that the Trump Administration has done to federal agencies and personnel. There are more difficult challenges ahead for the transition, but this is an important step.”