Trump’s transition team to arrive at Pentagon on Monday

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team will arrive at the Pentagon on Monday, a Pentagon spokesperson said, after a delay in signing an agreement after the Nov. 5 election to formally begin the transition process.

Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder said that Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks spoke with the Trump transition team on Friday and “conveyed the department’s commitment to conducting a smooth and professional transition.”

The unusual delay in signing the agreement after the election had raised concerns among some critics about potential hiccups in government operations or conflicts of interest.

Trump, a Republican, will take office on Jan. 20. His team had rejected entreaties from Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration to quickly sign a memorandum of understanding and had objected to some elements of a traditional transition agreement, according to the White House.