Biden to Receive 'Daily Presidential Briefing' Starting Next Week... Transition Process Kicks Off

Yellen and Economic Team Appointments to Be Announced
On the Eve of Thanksgiving, "Must Brace Ourselves for the Fight Against COVID," Emphasizing Social Distancing

On the 25th, a day before the Thanksgiving holiday (local time), President-elect Joe Biden delivered a national address at the Queen Theater in Wilmington, Delaware, urging unity among the American people. Biden emphasized unity by stating, "We must remember that we are not at war with each other, but at war with the virus." He appealed for social distancing, including minimizing family gatherings during the holiday period, to curb the spread of COVID-19. On the same day, the international statistics site Worldometer reported that the global cumulative number of COVID-19 cases had surpassed 60 million. [Image source=AP News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] President-elect Joe Biden will begin receiving the "Presidential Daily Briefing (PDB)" starting November 30 (local time), right after Thanksgiving. The Biden transition team, which has effectively nominated former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen as Treasury Secretary, plans to announce the rest of the economic team appointments next week, accelerating the transition process.

According to political media outlet The Hill and others, Jen Psaki, senior advisor to the Biden transition team, announced on the 25th that Biden will receive the "Presidential Intelligence Briefing." The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), which oversees U.S. intelligence agencies, also stated the previous day that it would provide requested support to the transition team in accordance with guidelines specified in the Presidential Transition Act.

Psaki mentioned that the transition team will focus on fact-finding regarding urgent national security threats, including terrorists or related groups attempting to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic response and the transition period.

She also said that classified information is already being shared with senior members of the Biden transition team, stating, "From a national security and diplomatic perspective, the agency review teams made initial contact with nearly all relevant agencies within hours after receiving transition team approval on the 23rd." Kate Bedingfield, spokesperson for the transition team, expressed encouragement over the "professional and friendly responses" from officials they have contacted, suggesting that the transition work is proceeding smoothly.

Biden is expected to officially announce the Treasury Secretary nominee early next week. Once former Chair Yellen is announced as the nominee, the next administration’s economic policies are anticipated to be prepared with momentum.

As the transition intensifies, Biden called for national unity and public cooperation in responding to COVID-19 on the day before the Thanksgiving holiday. He said, "We are at war with the virus, not with each other," and emphasized, "We must steel our resolve and redouble our efforts in the fight against COVID-19."

Biden also expressed concerns that COVID-19 could spread further during Thanksgiving. He urged keeping family gatherings small during the holiday and stressed that he would lead by example in following public health guidelines. He added, "I know how hard it is to give up family traditions, but it is very important," and said he would have dinner only with his wife Jill and his daughter’s family.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.