Trump's unusual delay in White House handover raises eyebrows across Washington

In a non-standard move this Nov‚ Donald Trump hasnt started the formal transition process with the Biden administration – which should happen before his Jan twenty-fifth inauguration. The delay affects fifteen federal agencies including Treasury State and Energy departments who cant share info with the incoming team

The hold-up connects to two key documents: a General Services Administration deal (which provides office space and IT support) and a White House agreement that lets transition staff access federal workers. Both papers need signing but Trump seems hesitant cause of his business interests – especially his stake in Trump Media & Technology Group which he stated on social-media he wont sell

• Treasury Department briefings
• State Department access
• Energy sector information
• Agriculture policy updates
• Transportation planning details

The transition law needs candidates to make public their ethics plans. Trumps team made their own ethics document that dont match the laws rules; this means he dont have to share names of private donors who can give unlimited money (normal limit is $5000)

Security clearance process looks different too – Trumps team skips FBI background checks using private companies instead. This non-traditional approach means some appointees might not get proper federal review. During his last term around twenty foreign governments spent over $7.8 million at his properties which made watchdogs worried about influence

The whole situation could affect how smooth government runs. Last time Trump was president he put his business in a trust run by his sons but still got criticized by ethics officials. Public trust went down to its lowest point in sixty years with just 17% of people thinking government did whats right