Oklahoma’s U.S. Senator James Lankford says he would step in to aid in the presidential transition of power if need be, depending on whether the General Services Administration formally determines the winner of the presidential election by Friday, November 13.
On Wednesday, Lankford told KRMG in Tulsa that he would step in to allow President-elect Joe Biden to start receiving intel briefings from various federal agencies. The Biden team hasn’t been allowed to do so since a Trump administration appointee in the GSA had yet to formally determine that Biden won the election.
Lankford said he based his opinion on what has typically been done in past elections when they were waiting on formal determinations.
"There’s nothing wrong with Vice President Biden getting the briefings to be able to prepare himself and so that he can be ready," he said.
Lankford joined with other congressional Republicans this week to say the transition of power should begin.
When the election result is formally determined, it would give Biden’s team access to office space in each government agency, computers and $9.9 million dollars to begin hiring transition personnel.
Biden has already begun planning for his transition, naming a team of experts to work on the coronavirus pandemic.
