Biden to Receive Intelligence Briefings Starting the 30th and Announce Treasury Secretary

Full-Scale Efforts to Secure and Respond to National Security Information
Yellen Treasury Nomination Announcement Expected

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The transition team announced that President-elect Joe Biden will begin receiving the "Presidential Daily Briefing" (PDB) starting on the 30th (local time). With the economic team appointments expected to be announced next week, Biden's transition process is anticipated to accelerate further.

According to political media outlet The Hill and others, Jen Psaki, senior advisor to the Biden transition team, revealed on the 25th (local time) that Biden will start receiving the PDB.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), which oversees U.S. intelligence agencies, also stated the day before that it would provide requested support to the transition team in accordance with guidelines specified in the Presidential Transition Act.

The transition team will focus on identifying urgent national security threats, including terrorists or related groups attempting to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic and the transition period, Psaki said.

She added that classified information is already being shared with senior members of the Biden transition team, stating, "From a national security and foreign affairs perspective, agency review teams made initial contact with nearly all relevant agencies within hours of the transition team's approval on the night of the 23rd."

It is expected that economic measures will also be fully launched once Janet Yellen, former Federal Reserve Chair, is officially announced as the nominee for Secretary of the Treasury next week. The transition team had previously indicated that economic team appointments would be announced early next week.

The transition team reported that they have been briefed on the COVID-19 response, including the Trump administration's "Operation Warp Speed" to accelerate vaccine and treatment development and distribution.

Regarding the transition work with the current administration, Kate Bedingfield, spokesperson for the transition team, said they are encouraged by the "professional and friendly responses" from the government officials they have been in contact with.