Biden: US National Security Agencies Damaged And 'Hollowed Out'

The United States President-elect said many US national security agencies have been damaged and “hollowed out”.

Speaking on Monday, Joe Biden added that his transition team was not receiving the information needed from the Department of Defense.

Mr Biden said the team received “exemplary cooperation” from some national agencies, but they encountered “obstruction” from the “political leadership” of the Department of Defense.

“Many of the agencies that are critical to our security have incurred enormous damage. Many of them have been hollowed out in personnel, capacity, and in morale,” the President-elect said.

He added that the transition team “needs a clear picture” of the nation’s “force posture around the world” and operations to deter enemies.

“We need full visibility into the budget planning underway at the Defense Department and other agencies in order to avoid any window of confusion or catch up that our adversaries may try to exploit,” Mr Biden said.

However, the President-elect remarked his team encountered “roadblocks” from both the political leadership at the Department of Defense and the Office of Management and Budget.

“Right now, we just aren't getting all the information we need from the outgoing administration in key national security areas.

“It's nothing short, in my view, of irresponsibility.”

The President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris met virtually with their national security and foreign policy agency review teams to discuss key challenges that their administration will inherit.

Joe Biden is to be sworn in on 20 January 2021, after winning the US presidential election in November against US President Donald Trump.