Joe Biden, the US president-elect, complained on Monday that his national security team faced “obstructions” and “roadblocks” by the Pentagon’s political leadership.
The criticism came after the defense department earlier this month suddenly suspended briefings with Biden’s transition team and with Donald Trump still trying to reverse his election defeat.
“From some agencies, our team has received exemplary cooperation,” said Biden in Wilmington, Delaware, after a meeting with his foreign policy advisers. “From others, mainly from the Department of Defense, we find obstruction of that department’s political leadership.”
Both the defense department and the Office of Management and Budget have erected “barriers”, he added. “At the moment, we are simply not getting all the information we need from the outgoing administration in the main areas of national security. It is nothing less than irresponsibility. “
The president-elect, who takes office on January 20, warned that his team needs “full visibility” of the Pentagon’s budget process “to avoid any window of confusion or catch-up that our opponents might try to exploit”.
The comments were the last sign of Biden’s greater willingness to take off his gloves by condemning Trump’s reluctance to participate in a quick and orderly transition. The current president has not yet invited his successor to the White House nor confirmed his presence in office, as is tradition.
Trump fired his defense secretary Mark Esper after the November 3 election, replacing him with Christopher Miller as an interim.
Earlier this month, Biden’s team complained about an abrupt interruption of Pentagon cooperation. The defense department claimed that the meetings were postponed until January because of a “mutually agreed” break, but the transition team insisted that such an agreement does not exist.
The team also said it encountered resistance to requests for information from some Pentagon officials. But a senior defense official told the Reuters news agency that the Pentagon had conducted 163 interviews and 181 requests for information and would continue to provide information and meetings.
Trump refused to acknowledge Biden’s victory, alleging widespread electoral fraud for which there is no evidence and suffering dozens of defeats in court. His administration only authorized cooperation with Biden on 23 November.
Trump promised to make a final stand on January 6, when Congress will meet to certify the results of the electoral college. Jenna Ellis, a member of her legal team, tweeted on Monday: “President Trump should never grant the election.”
Biden was informed on Monday by his nominees for secretary of state, defense and homeland security, as well as by his new national security adviser. He said his team found that agencies “essential to our security incurred enormous damage” during Trump’s term.
“Many of them have been depleted in personnel, capacity and morale. There are policy processes that have atrophied or been pushed aside due to the malfunctioning of our alliances. This makes it more difficult for our government to protect the American people. “
Biden’s foreign policy team was described as a return to experience, expertise and it was Barack Obama, with Tony Blinken appointed as 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 is facing a confirmation battle as secretary of defense because he is a retired general, potentially undermining the military’s principle of civilian control.