Republican senator sends warning to Biden administrator about commitments for a potential Trump transition

FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., fires a warning shot to agencies and departments within the federal government about a possible transition to a future Trump administration — telling the Democratic administration it must follow federal requirements.

Hagerty has written to all federal agencies in letters obtained by Fox News Digital, warning about current provisions in the appropriations laws that limit departments' ability to transfer funds or change programs during the transition period.

“As we enter a presidential transition period, I am writing to you today to remind you of your statutory authority to transfer funds and your program change requirements under the Further Consolidated Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2024, which will remain in effect.” of transition,” he wrote.

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Senator Bill Hagerty, a Republican from Tennessee, speaks during a hearing of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee in Washington, DC, USA, on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“Complying with these requirements must be a priority for the outgoing administration, given the criminal and administrative consequences that will follow if they fail to do so,” he said.

He argues that the law restricts the transfer of funds and changes to programs and prohibits employees from paying federal money – with possible criminal penalties or dismissal.

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“As the Biden Administration works to transfer the power and authority of the President of the United States and the Executive Branch in a timely, transparent, and lawful manner, compliance with these legal obligations is essential,” he wrote.

The letter comes ahead of a potentially difficult transition period if former President Donald Trump is elected to the White House for a second time.

The Trump transition team clashed with the Obama administration in 2016 over allegations that Russia interfered in the election. In 2020, Trump refused to accept the election results and was indicted last year on felony charges for working to overturn the election results.

President Biden made headlines in August when he said he was not confident there would be a peaceful transfer of power if Vice President Kamala Harris won.

“If Trump loses, I’m not confident at all,” he said in an interview.

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Former President Donald Trump gathered in Raleigh, North Carolina before Vice President Kamala Harris spoke to supporters in Scranton, Pennsylvania on Monday, November 4, 2024. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder/Kevin Mohatt)

“He means what he says. We don't take him seriously. He means it,” he said.

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The administration began offering resources to both Trump and Harris in August ahead of a potential transition that will include the vetting and selection of more than 4,000 candidates and will depend on the infrastructure built in the lead-up to the election. The Associated Press reported that a federal transition coordination council has been holding regular meetings to prepare for handing over the reins in January 2025.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.