The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for March 5, 2025
We reported last year that the Trump transition team had been funding itself through unknown private donations, and refused to sign a General Services Administration transition support memo which limited private donations to $5,000. The memo was never signed, and the transition’s private donors still haven’t been disclosed.
Nonprofit news site NOTUS reports that previous transition teams disclose that information by February 19th, including for Biden and Trump’s first transition. In November, Trump’s chief of staff promised to disclose those donors.
The Presidential Transition Act of 1963 allows money controlled by the GSA to fund Presidential transition expenses, including office space, personnel, IT, and other support services to aid incoming and outgoing administrations. The GSA budgeted $21.6 million dollars this cycle, according to the Congressional Research Service. That funding is contingent on the incoming administration signing a memo of understanding, and the Transition Act limits outside donations of $5,000.
But while Trump’s team agreed on the terms of the new administration’s move into the White House, it refused to sign GSA’s transition support memo, allowing it to sidestep the limits and disclosure requirements.
So between November 7th and January 20th, it’s likely millions were received from wealthy donors and corporations, and Americans still don’t know who funded its transfer of power, and the influence it bought. We’ve linked the NOTUS report and GSA’s transition page at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
American Oversight – (****2016 – 1st Trump Administration) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION AND DONALD J. TRUMP
U.S. General Services Administration – Transition Memoranda, Reports, and Key Documents
U.S. General Services Administration – Trump Vance 2025 Transition Team Ethics Plan
American Democracy Minute – (2024) The Presidential Transition Turns Into One Big Dark Money Special Interest Swamp
NPR – (2024) With clock ticking, Trump transition is so far skipping background checks and briefings
NPR – (2024) Trump team signs a key transition agreement with Biden White House
NOTUS – (Free w/registration) – Donald Trump Still Hasn’t Disclosed His Secret Transition Funders
Groups Taking Action:
Campaign Legal Center, Center for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (C.R.E.W), Public Citizen
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE!
Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org
Want ADM sent to your email? Sign up here!
Are you a radio station? Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX
#Democracy #DemocracyNews #TrumpTransition #DarkMoney #Corruption #DonaldTrump