Biden given green light for govt transition

The United States General Services Administration, or GSA, told Joe Biden on Monday that it was ready to begin his formal presidential transition process.

GSA Administrator Emily Murphy said in a letter that she was prepared to make "postelection resources and services available" for Biden's transition to the White House. Despite "recent developments involving legal challenges and certifications of election results", the GSA head said she made her decision "independently, based on the law and available facts".

Murphy's move allows the Biden transition team to coordinate with federal agencies, especially on critical national security and public health areas as the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps across the nation. The GSA will make $6.3 million available to Biden and his team to begin the transition process, as well as additional funds to prepare his staff and appointees. The presidential inauguration takes place on Jan 20.

Also on Monday, US President Donald Trump said on social media that he was recommending that the GSA "do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols", and that he had directed his team to facilitate Biden's transition, although he still didn't concede defeat.

"Our case strongly continues, we will keep up the good fight, and I believe we will prevail!" Trump said on social media, referring to a series of legal actions his campaign launched in multiple states aimed at overturning the election results.

There has been speculation that Trump intends to run for the White House in 2024. On Monday, a new Hill-HarrisX poll found 47 percent of registered voters in the Nov 17-19 survey said they support the idea of another presidential run by Trump. By contrast, 53 percent of respondents oppose the notion.

On Monday, Biden tapped Obama-era officials for top national security and economic roles, signaling a stark shift from the Trump administration's "America First" policies that favored deregulation and tax cuts.

The picks include former US secretary of state John Kerry to take the lead on combating climate change. Biden is also expected to choose Janet Yellen, who was nominated by former president Barack Obama to lead the Federal Reserve, as the first woman to become treasury secretary.

Biden will nominate longtime adviser Antony Blinken to be secretary of state and lawyer Alejandro Mayorkas to be homeland security secretary.

Biden's emerging Cabinet marks a return to a more traditional approach to governing, relying on veteran policymakers with deep expertise and strong relationships in Washington and global capitals.

Agencies and Ai Heping in New York contributed to this story.