The designation triggers a formal transition process, giving Biden and his team access to current agency officials, briefing books and other government resources, including some $6 million in funding. The biggest change now is that the transition team will be able to flood federal agencies with officials focused on preparing the way for his administration. Transition aides also will get details about which positions are most critical, as the incoming administration seeks to fill more than 7,000 jobs across the federal government. Biden’s team can now dig into work essential to running the federal government and bolstering the economy, from developing a budget plan to coordinating unemployment benefits guidance with the Labor Department. Executive-branch departments working on the pandemic response can also brief the Biden team on the systems for distributing protective equipment and coronavirus vaccines.

Source: Punch November 24, 2020 03:44 UTC