Approval for transition gives Biden team access to resources

WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government is set to begin working with President-elect Joe Biden's transition team now that the head of the General Services Administration has “ascertained” that he is the apparent winner of this month's presidential election.

Among other things, the ascertainment process gives the incoming president and his team access to officials at federal agencies and directs the Justice Department to work on security clearances for transition team members and Biden political appointees. It even gives his team access to official government website domains.

Here is why else the designation is important:

WHAT EXACTLY DOES BIDEN GET?

With the ascertainment, GSA will now release $6.3 million in congressionally appropriated funds to Biden's transition team and 175,000 square feet (16,200 square meters) of federal office space, including secure areas where Biden and his team can receive sensitive intelligence briefings.

DOES BIDEN'S TEAM REALLY NEED THE MONEY AND OFFICE SPACE?

Biden made clear soon after declaring victory that the money that came with ascertainment was of less concern.

But the president-elect and aides said that the designation was crucial so that he could legally begin consulting with federal government experts about plans to distribute a coronavirus vaccine that is expected to soon come to market. Trump administration officials also had refused to give Biden the classified presidential daily briefing on intelligence matters until the GSA made the ascertainment official.

It also means the White House Transition Coordinating Council can proceeds with homeland security and emergency preparedness exercises with Biden's team as required by law.

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

Slowing the pace of the transition could hamstring a new...