Biden moves forward without help from Trump's intel team

presidential race was hovering in limbo in 2000 when outgoing President Bill Clinton decided to let n-Gov. George W. Bush re ultra-secret daily brief of nation’s most sensitive intelligence.

Clinton was a Democrat and his vice president, Al Gore, was running against Republican Bush. Gore h been reing so-called President's Daily Brief for eight years; Clinton decided to bring Bush into fold in case he won and he did.

President Donald Trump has t followed Clinton's le. As he contests this year's election results, Trump has t authorized President-elect Joe Biden to lay eyes on brief.

National security and intelligence experts hope Trump changes his mind, citing need for an incoming president to be fully prepared to confront any national security issues on Day One.

“Our versaries aren’t waiting for transition to take place,” says former Michigan Republican Rep. Mike Rogers, who was chairman of House intelligence committee. “Joe Biden should receive President’s Daily Brief starting today. He needs to kw what latest threats are and begin to plan accordingly. This isn’t about politics; this is about national security.”

U.S. versaries can take vant of country during an American presidential transition and key foreign issues will be bearing down on Biden moment he steps into Oval Office.

Among m: Unless Trump extends or negotiates a new nuclear arms accord with Russia before Inauguration Day, Biden will have only 16 days to act before expiration of last remaining treaty reining in world’s two largest nuclear arsenals. Perhaps U.S. spies have picked up tidbits about Russians' redlines in negotiations, or about weapons it really wants to keep out of treaty.

That's of information that might be in PDB, a daily summary of high-level, classified information and analysis on national security issues that's been offered to presidents since 1946. It is coordinated and delivered by Office of National Intelligence Director with input from CIA and or ncies. It is tailored for each president, depending on wher y prefer oral or written briefs or both, short summaries or long reports on paper or electronically.

Having access to PDB also could help Biden craft a possible response to rth Korea, which has a history of firing off missiles or conducting nuclear tests shortly before or after new presidents take office.

Biden has deces of experience in foreign affairs and national security, but he likely has t been privy to latest details about how Iran is back to enriching uranium, or active cyber attack operations of Russia, China and Iran. China’s crackdown on Hong Kong is heating up. And threat from Islamic extremists, although curbed, still remains.

Biden is trying to play down significance of delay in getting access to PDB.

“Obviously PDB would be useful but, it’s t necessary. I’m t sitting president w,” Biden said Tuesday. He didn’t answer a question about wher he’d tried to reach out to Trump himself on this or any or issue, saying only, “Mr. President, I look forward to speaking with you.”

He was also asked about needing access to classified information as soon as possible if Trump doesn’t concede race.

“Look, access to classified information is useful. But I’m t in a position to make any decisions on those issues anyway,” Biden said. “As I said, one president at a time. He will be president until Jan. 20. It would be nice to have it, but it’s t critical.”

Biden is familiar with PDB, having re it during his eight years as vice president. But threats are ever-changing and as Inauguration Day nears, his need for Trump to let him get eyes on intelligence brief will become more critical.

“It’s an important and meaningful trition, and I’m concerned that it’s t being continued," said Denis McDough, a former White House chief of staff during Obama ministration who oversaw 2017 transition.

While Bush team h access to intelligence brief in 2000, an election recount delayed Bush team's access to government ncies and resources for more than five weeks. Biden is missing out on all counts: More than a week into his transition, Biden doesn't have access to PDB, ncies or government resources to help him get rey to take charge.

“President-elect Joe Biden and his transition team should t suffer a similar delay,” John Podesta, who served as White House chief of staff under Clinton, and Bush's chief of staff Andrew Card wrote in a joint op-ed published this week in Washington Post.

“We have since learned serious costs of a delayed transition,” y wrote. “Less than eight months after Bush’s inauguration, two planes flew into World Tre Center, killing nearly 3,000 Americans.”

9/11 Commission Report on Sept. 11, 2001, attacks warns of danger in slow-walking presidential transition work in general, t just intelligence piece. Bush ministration didn't have its deputy Cabinet officers in place until spring of 2001 and critical subcabinet positions were t confirmed until that summer — if n, report said.

For w, office of National Intelligence Director John Ratcliffe says it can’t begin talking with Biden transition team until a federal ncy starts process of transition, which Trump ministration is delaying.

office, which oversees more than a dozen U.S. intelligence ncies, said it must follow Presidential Transition Act, which requires General Services ministration to first ascertain winner of election, which Trump is contesting. GSA ministrator Emily Murphy, who was appointed by Trump, has t yet officially designated Biden as president-elect.

Intelligence ncies have given generalized intelligence briefings — minus information on covert operations and sources and methods — for presidential minees since 1952. President Harry S. Truman authorized m for both parties’ candidates because he was upset about t learning about U.S. effort to develop an atomic bomb until 12 days into his presidency.

Biden started receiving se more general security briefings after he became Democratic presidential minee, but it's unclear if he is still getting those. A spokesman for Biden’s transition team declined to comment.