Mike Pence Removes Lobbyists from Donald Trump's Transition Committee

Informed sources told Fox News on Tuesday that lobbyists have been "purged" from Donald Trump's transition committee. The removal of lobbyists is one of the first decisions made by Mike Pence, the Vice President-elect, since he was tasked with selecting members of Trump's future administration. A knowledgeable source added that this move is "a positive sign regarding the composition and structure of his future government from Donald Trump's perspective." On Tuesday evening, Mike Pence officially took charge of the transition committee by signing a memorandum of understanding. Before Pence, Chris Christie, the Governor of New Jersey, held this responsibility for several months, but Trump dismissed him last week. The changes seem to have slowed the negotiations and coordination between Trump's team and Barack Obama's administration for the transition of power; a White House spokesperson told the Associated Press that the Obama administration is waiting to receive the final documents that must be delivered to the White House before transferring information from government agencies to the President-elect's transition committee. After accepting his new responsibility, Mike Pence has not yet made any statements and has avoided answering reporters' questions. An informed source told the Associated Press that different factions within Trump's camp are "at war over power." According to this unnamed source, "the organization is currently unable to function." Donald Trump, the President-elect, stated on his Twitter account that the transition and the selection of cabinet members are progressing smoothly and appropriately. Reports indicate that the majority of those appointed to the transition committee by Chris Christie were professional lobbyists, seasoned bureaucrats, academics, and lawyers from large financial and economic firms. This composition reportedly surprised Donald Trump. One of his main campaign promises was to "drain the swamp" in Washington, referring to reducing the influence of powerful circles and institutions in government decision-making. A group of Trump's critics had also warned about the composition of the transition committee and the nominees for important government positions. Senator Elizabeth Warren, a senior Democratic senator, on Tuesday urged Trump to replace 20 members of this committee who have close ties to financial centers and large corporations. In her statement, Senator Warren wrote, "If you do not accept this change, I will oppose you in every decision over the next four years. I will defend the rights of millions of Americans whom you will not support. I will monitor all your actions and remind the American people every day how you have turned your back on them with your actions." One of the individuals who resigned from Trump's transition committee on Tuesday was Mike Rogers, a Republican member of the House of Representatives and a well-known politician in the field of national security. The Wall Street Journal reported that Frank Gaffney, a former Defense Department official during the Reagan presidency, has been invited to assist in the national security area in Trump's new transition team. According to ABC News, as a result of the changes made by Mike Pence in this committee, the previous composition chosen by Chris Christie has been "completely disrupted." These changes appear to be Trump's reaction to reports and criticisms that have emerged in recent days regarding the strong presence of lobbyists and individuals connected to financial centers in his transition team. The President-elect of the United States will take over the government in two months.