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President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team signed an agreement on Tuesday to allow the Department of Justice (DOJ) to conduct background checks on his nominees and appointees, breaking a weeks-long impasse. The move is crucial for ensuring that Trump’s incoming administration is prepared to access classified information and take over the reins of government on January 20.
“This agreement with the Department of Justice will ensure President Trump and his team are ready on Day 1 to begin enacting the America First Agenda that an overwhelming majority of our nation supported on Election Day,” said Susie Wiles, Trump’s designated White House chief of staff.
The agreement clears the way for Trump’s aides to obtain security clearances, a prerequisite for receiving classified briefings on ongoing operations and national security threats. FBI background checks will also be conducted on key nominees who must face Senate confirmation, including Pete Hegseth, Trump’s pick for defense secretary, and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, his nominee for director of national intelligence.
Senate Republicans have emphasized the importance of thorough vetting. “We need an FBI background check, committee review, and public hearings to ensure these nominees are fit to serve,” said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. John Thune, the incoming Senate Republican leader, added, “The Trump team understands that there will have to be a thorough vetting of all these nominees.”
The announcement follows last week’s agreement between the Trump transition team and the Biden White House, enabling coordination with federal agencies. The agreement, which should have been signed by October 1 under the Presidential Transition Act, had been delayed, prompting appeals from the Biden administration to expedite the process.
The Biden White House and national security experts had stressed the importance of cleared personnel before Inauguration Day. Security clearances allow incoming officials to be briefed on sensitive matters, ensuring a smooth transition.
Teams of DOJ investigators have been prepared to process the background checks for Trump’s nominees, a task Senate Republicans insist must be completed before confirmation votes. The FBI’s findings on nominees like Hegseth and Gabbard are expected to be closely scrutinized given their controversial histories.
With this agreement in place, Trump’s transition team moves closer to ensuring a fully staffed administration, ready to assume control of the federal government on January 20.
