Topline
Trump administration aides received an email from the White House Management Office on Tuesday detailing the process for moving out when President-elect Joe Biden takes office on January 20, according to multiple reports, a sign the transition is rapidly progressing despite President Trump’s false insistence he won the election—though hours later aides received a follow-up message telling them to disregard some of the instructions, according to the New York Times.
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 22: A general view of the White House on December 22, 2020 in Washington, … [+] DC. President Donald Trump spoke against the COVID relief bill in a video posted to Twitter, urging Congress amend the bill to increase the direct payments given to Americans to $2,000. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
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Key Facts
The Tuesday email, which was first obtained by CBS News and Politico, details everything from “emptying your desk and cabinets” to “cleaning out your refrigerator and microwave.”
Office supplies and stationary should be returned to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building beginning December 28, and some employees will leave as soon as January 4, the email reads.
The memo also included information about “payroll, benefits, sick leave, work records, ethics debriefing and security clearance,” according to Politico, and aides were instructed they would get a “comprehensive checklist” soon.
On Wednesday, a follow-up message was sent to executive office staff telling them to ignore the detail about some staff leaving January 4; the last paycheck would reflect work through January 19, the email stated, creating confusion.
Trump has shown no sign he intends to concede: in a nearly ten minute clip posted to his social media accounts Wednesday, the president rambled about baseless voter fraud allegations, insisting falsely he “won the election by a landslide.”
In a separate video voicing his opposition to the spending and stimulus relief package lawmakers passed Monday, Trump told Congress: “Send me a suitable bill, or else the next administration will have to deliver a covid relief package, and maybe that administration will be me.”
The White House did not immediately respond to Forbes’ request for comment.
What To Watch For
Trump has not indicated whether he plans to attend Biden’s inauguration, a tradition presidents have followed for more than a century. Asked about Biden’s Inauguration in an interview with Fox News earlier this month, Trump replied: “I don’t want to talk about that.” According to the Daily Beast, Trump is mulling whether to hold a 2024 campaign kickoff rally during the ceremony.
Crucial Quote
Earlier this month, Maju Varghese, the inaugural committee’s executive director, told the Washington Post his team has not made preparations for Trump’s role at the Inauguration: “If the former president is part of those plans, we’ll work through that,” Varghese said.
Key Background
The process of moving one president out and an incoming president in is always chaotic and challenging. Permanent staffers typically show up at the White House grounds around 4 a.m., ready to begin the five hour operation before the new first family returns from the inauguration ceremony around 3:30-5:00 p.m. during a typical year, according to the Washington Post.
Tangent
The inauguration will look much different this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, organizers say, though it’s not clear whether that will affect the move out process. Biden’s Inaugural Committee recently detailed plans for a scaled down ceremony, and told people to stay away from the event which typically draws huge crowds.
Further Reading
The 5 craziest hours in the White House (Washington Post)
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