Political security experts consider Trump’s refusal to accept defeat as a potential threat to national security by preventing an orderly transition of power. One such threat that is being given much attention is the possible launch of cyber attacks, which makes early transmission of classified government information to President-elect Joe Biden necessary. That way, the new administration will be better prepared to respond defensively and offensively in dealing with cyber attacks. .
First Secretary of Homeland Security Voices Concerns Over Trump’s Uncooperative Stance
Former Pennsylvania Republican Governor Tom Ridge, who served as President George Bush’s Assistant for Homeland Security and the first to hold the position of Secretary to the United States Homeland Security, warned that cyberspace has always been and will continue to be unsafe. He gives advice that it’s important for Pres-Elect Joe Biden and his administration to prepare for both offense and defense strategies as soon as the new set of officials assumes office on the 20th of January in 2021.
The former Pennsylvania Governor added that Trump’s uncooperative stance will only worsen the present situation in which the country is juggling with problems coming from all directions, and while facing an economic fallout and amidst a worsening worldwide pandemic. That is why the country cannot afford to lose time in initiating the transition of presidential and administrative powers.
Cyber Attacks Expert Also Considers Trump’s Refusal to Allow Transition as Posing Security Risks
In a Washington Post interview, Marcus Fowler, who served as CIA officer for 15 years in the development of global cyber strategies and technical operations, voiced opinions similar to Mr. Ridge.
Mr. Fowler who is currently the Director of Darktrace, a leading AI cyber security company that deals in cyber threat detection and in developing responses to global threats, said Trump’s continuing refusal presents risks in the security of the country. According to Mr. Fowler, even without any major cyberattacks, the delays Trump is causing only makes the country an easy target for espionage campaigns by way of cyber attacks that could come from known adversaries like Russia, China and Iran.
Nonetheless, several Washington Post correspondents reported that President-elect Joe Biden’s team has been provided with a more than 10,000-square feet wide office space at the Herbert C. Hoover Building. Additionally, the transition team has been provided with government-issued computers and iPhones to use in conducting secure communications.
Yet Trump continues to assert that his numerous lawsuits across different states will prove that he is the rightful winner of the recently concluded presidential election. He continues to push for recognition as the winner despite the fact that he is not gaining positive grounds in his legal challenges. Mainly because his enablers still can’t produce reliable proofs that there really was voter fraud in the concerned states.