Joe Biden, the president-elect of the United States, complained Monday that his national security team has encountered “obstructions” and “obstacles” from the Pentagon’s political leadership.
The criticism came after the defense department earlier this month abruptly suspended briefings with Biden’s transition team and Donald Trump still tried to undo his electoral defeat.
“From some agencies, our team received exemplary cooperation,” Biden said in Wilmington, Delaware, following a briefing from his foreign policy advisers. “Others, especially from the Department of Defense, found obstruction by the political leadership of that department.”
Both the defense department and the Office of Management and Budgets raised “obstacles,” he added. “Right now, we just don’t get all the information we need from the administration coming out in key areas of national security. In my opinion, it’s nothing irresponsible.”
The president-elect, who takes office on Jan. 20, warned that his team needs “full visibility” of the Pentagon’s budget process “to avoid any window of confusion or updating that our opponents may try to exploit.” .
The statements were the latest sign of Biden’s greater willingness to take off his gloves to condemn Trump’s reluctance to participate in a quick and orderly transition. The current president has not yet invited his successor to the White House or confirmed his attendance at the inauguration, as is traditional.
Trump fired his Secretary of Defense, Mark Esper, after the Nov. 3 election, and replaced him with incumbent Christopher Miller.
Earlier this month, Biden’s team complained of an abrupt halt in Pentagon cooperation. The defense department claimed the meetings had been postponed until January due to a “mutually agreed” pause, but the transition team insisted there is no such agreement.
The team also said it had opposed the request for information from some Pentagon officials. But a senior defense official told Reuters news agency that the Pentagon had conducted 163 interviews and 181 requests for information and would continue to provide information and meetings.
Trump has refused to acknowledge Biden’s victory, claiming widespread electoral fraud of which there is no evidence and has suffered dozens of court defeats. His administration only authorized cooperation with Biden on 23 November.
Trump has promised to take a final stand on Jan. 6 when Congress convenes to certify the results of the election university. Jenna Ellis, a member of her legal team, tweeted on Monday: “President Trump should never grant the election.”
Biden was briefed Monday by his candidates for secretary of state, defense and national security, as well as by his new national security adviser. He said his team found that agencies “critical to our security have suffered enormous damage” during Trump’s tenure.
“Many of them have been empty in terms of staff, capacity and morale. There are policy processes that have atrophied or have been on the verge of deteriorating our alliances. It makes it harder for our government to protect the American people. ”
Biden’s foreign policy team has been described as a return to the experience, expertise and era of Barack Obama, with Tony Blinken nominated to Secretary of State Jake Sullivan as national security adviser and John Kerry in a new role as special presidential envoy for the climate. Lloyd Austin faces a confirmation battle as Secretary of Defense because he is a retired general, which can undermine the principle of civilian control of the military.