Why are presidential transitions paid for by donations?
Asked by
Jeruba (
56092)
2 weeks ago
I’ve been reading about Trump’s taking donations from anonymous donors for his transition efforts. Here’s one:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/24/us/politics/donald-trump-2024-campaign-transition.html
Here’s a two-paragraph excerpt from that article:
The current Trump transition, like its predecessors, is set up as a “dark money” nonprofit. Those groups typically do not have to disclose their donors, even to the Internal Revenue Service. But unlike Mr. Trump’s team this year, earlier transitions accepted financial support from the General Services Administration, which oversees much of the transition process. In exchange for that federal money, they agreed to conditions that other dark-money nonprofits do not have to follow, like capping individual contributions at $5,000 and disclosing the names of their donors.
When Barack Obama won the presidency in 2008, his transition raised $4.5 million while restricting donations to a maximum of $5,000, and pledging to refuse money from corporations, labor unions, political action committees, lobbyists and registered foreign agents. Nearly 60,000 people contributed, with an average donation of about $75.
(End of excerpt.)
Why is this necessary business the goal of fund-raising that lets people gain favors or purchase influence? Or why would anyone donate if they don’t gain from it somehow? Why doesn’t the government cover these expenses? What’s really going on with this?
Observing members:
0
Composing members:
0
13 Answers
Gawd, I knew nothing about this. I guess to fly people in to interview for positions and discuss next steps. Transportation, hotel, meals. Also, rent for office space, which was mentioned in the article. Ugh.
The amount of money spent is unbelievable. Money spent and pocketed, it’s sickening. Obviously, it buys favors.
There is a law that has rules for corporations using their might to influence political out comes. Something like the separation of church and state.
Now I’ll just shut up and learn.
Thanks, @Tropical_Willie. It seems all incoming administrations routinely sign the agreement. Not this one, though. Your article also says this:
Warren also noted that the FBI cannot start its background checks of Trump’s nominees for national security roles until the agreement is signed.
And that could be the reason right there: stalling the background checks. His crew has had years to come up with all this mischief.
But WHY is it done this way? That just seems so strange.
I heard something about Trump wanting to have a third party do background checks.
^^It’s terrible and more messaging to not trust our FBI and other parts of our government that protect us.
@JLeslie Somebody that got elected doesn’t want you to trust !
I think that’s what I said.
I tried to Google my question and kept ending up on pages where I was invited to donate to something.
How else might I word my question?
“Financial influence on the Trump transition.”
It’s apparently a standing practice and not about Trump per se. It’s how presidential transitions are done. I just never heard of it before now. What I want to know is, why is it done that way?
Answer this question
This question is in the General Section. Responses must be helpful and on-topic.