President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team is bypassing the FBI’s traditional background checks for some of his Cabinet picks, opting instead for private companies aligned with the Trump campaign to conduct vetting, sources close to the process say. This unprecedented move raises serious concerns about national security, with critics warning that skipping the FBI’s rigorous checks could leave the administration vulnerable to foreign influence or security risks.
Trump’s team claims the FBI’s system is too slow and flawed, potentially delaying his plans to implement his agenda quickly. However, the decision to sidestep these checks breaks from long-established norms designed to ensure that senior officials do not have undisclosed foreign ties or other national security risks.
Among the controversial figures being considered for top roles are Rep. Matt Gaetz for Attorney General and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence. Gaetz, who has been under investigation for sex trafficking, and Gabbard, whose past praise of foreign leaders like Syria’s Bashar al-Assad and Russia’s Vladimir Putin has raised alarms, could face significant obstacles if their backgrounds are not fully vetted.
Bypassing FBI checks also risks complicating the Senate confirmation process. While the president can grant security clearances without the FBI’s approval, such decisions could draw scrutiny if any nominee has connections that raise national security concerns.
As president, Trump could bypass the standard process and directly grant Gaetz and Gabbard security clearances, as he did during his first term when he intervened to approve a clearance for his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, after concerns about potential conflicts of interest stalled the approval.
The Trump team’s approach reflects its deep mistrust of the national security establishment, often criticized as the “Deep State,” and echoes the chaotic transition process after the 2016 election. Sources say Trump’s team is more focused on internal vetting, with little interest in the formal process for handling classified material.
This strategy, if carried out, could leave Trump’s administration unprepared for the complex national security challenges it will face and undermine the foundational checks that safeguard U.S. interests. Experts warn that disregarding the FBI’s vetting process could have dangerous consequences, particularly in an era of heightened foreign threats.
