The outgoing Donald Trump administration has prevented President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team from conducting meetings with officials at the Pentagon intelligence agency, reported CNN quoting a former senior intelligence official.

The obstruction by the Trump administration means the Biden transition team has failed to meet officials from military intelligence agencies within the Defense Department, including officials from the Defence Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency.

A meeting had taken place on Friday for transition officials on issues pertaining to the military including senior-level policy and critical international security threats that demand immediate attention, reported CNN quoting a senior defence official.

The delays continue to happen even after the General Services Administration gave a green light on November 23, for officials at the federal levels across government to meet with President-elect Biden’s agency review teams, ensuring a smooth transfer of power.

Also Read: US halts China-funded exchange programs, calls them ‘propaganda tools’

The intelligence officer further stated that the Biden’s agency review team had made arrangements to meet with various defense intelligence agencies this week.

However, during the course of the week, the Pentagon stated that Biden would have no engagement with defence intelligence agencies, adding that questions and listed names of people the team wanted to meet were to be provided in advance, as per a CNN report.

Following the submission of the request by the Biden team it would be reviewed by the Defence Department’s general counsel Kash Patel, a Donald Trump appointee.

“That’s a big FU from Defense to the incoming intelligence community transition team,” reported CNN quoting the former official.

Also Read: US judge orders Trump administration to restore ‘Dreamer’ immigration program

Sue Gough, a Defence Department spokesperson, however, junked rumours of Biden’s teams’ inability to meet with intelligence officials at the Pentagon, as per CNN.

Gough in a statement said, “The DOD Agency Review Team has not been denied any access,” and further added, “We continue to work with the DOD ART to schedule all requested interviews, briefings and updates.”