President Donald Trump’s administration and Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s team signed a memorandum of understanding with the General Services Administration (GSA) to start a potential handover of power.
A spokesperson for the GSA, an independent agency, confirmed the two parties signed the memorandum on Thursday, according to The Associated Press.
The memorandum is required under the 1963 Presidential Transition Act that helps ensure a smooth transition of power.
A spokesperson for the agency told AP that the memorandum is expected to be published on the GSA’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) section next week.
According to a White House document published earlier this year (pdf), “The Presidential Transition Act promotes the orderly transfer of Executive powers in connection with the expiration of the term of office of a President and the inauguration of a new President. The activities required by the Act are also helpful to prepare for leadership transitions that occur between the first and second terms of Administrations.”
In 2016, both Hillary Clinton and Trump had offices and staff in the same building preparing for a transition ahead of Election Day. Nearly all of Trump’s plan was subsequently shelved after he won the White House.
In the coming weeks, both Biden and Trump are ramping up campaigning with key stops at potential swing states. Biden is slated to visit Michigan next week while the president is going to North Carolina.
The presidential debates are scheduled for the end of September.
