As Joe Biden’s tenure at the White House comes to an end, it’s hard not to reflect on the past. When Biden departed from his political career the previous time, he was embroiled in a scandal surrounding classified documents he should have returned to the National Archives. This event sparked an inquiry into his actions, questioning whether his memory lapse had been intentional or merely another episode revealing his dwindling mental sharpness.
With Biden’s staff now packing, an atmosphere of déjà vu has settled over the White House. The maze of documents and belongings to archive or store is familiar, unfortunately as are the subsequent concerns about the management of classified materials.
Despite the passing of years and the promise of reforms, the administration remains tight-lipped on the measures taken to prevent a repeat of the past. The lack of official communication gives rise to doubts about their commitment to addressing this issue.
Even though Biden formed a federal task force in 2024 to improve transition protocol and safeguard classified information, no concrete directives have been issued thus far. One can’t help but question the real aim of the task force—was it merely a political maneuver to redirect public focus?
Tasked with both the review of previous transitions and determining shifts needed in current rules to prevent classified data removal, the group’s mission is critical. Without strict control mechanisms, sensitive information could find its way out of the National Archives unlawfully.
The Presidential Records Act of 1978 stipulates that presidents return all official documents, including confidential ones, to the National Archives after leaving office. Biden is no exception to this rule and is currently navigating through his documents to separate personal materials from official ones so they can be archived correctly.
Personal effects like diaries or family photographs are permitted to be kept with the outgoing president. However, the vast majority of the written records, specifically those containing classified information, need to be submitted to the National Archives under the supervision of the Presidential Records Act.
Sure, former officials are presumed to hand back any classified records inadvertently retained. But isn’t it concerning how heavily these processes rely on good faith when consequences for not returning classified materials are so dire?
Indeed, when such principles are violated, unprecedented measures like FBI seizures of classified information can be enforced. The seriousness with which these actions are taken says a lot about the weight of trust bestowed on these individuals.
Yet we’ve seen how frail that trust can be. Rewind back to 2017, when Biden discovered he had accidentally forgotten to return some classified documents after his time as vice president. He claims to have immediately handed them over to the National Archives once he identified this oversight.
An investigation by the Justice Department ensued, subtly questioning Biden’s mental acuity. One does wonder if it was truly an honest mistake or a result of his weakening cognition. Regardless, Biden complied with the investigation and, with the aid of his cooperativeness, the inquiry concluded with him being cleared of criminal accusations.
Yet, the fallout from this saga cast a lasting shadow over public perceptions of Biden’s capability to function effectively in high-office. The political climate buzzed with speculation about Biden’s mental fitness creating an upheaval that Biden simply could not contend with.
Facing an uphill battle, Biden eventually decided to withdraw his bid for re-election. This provided a short window for Kamala Harris to scramble and prepare a campaign of her own, underlining just how inept this administration was, which prioritized scramble over strategy.
In what cannot be seen as anything other than a clearly portrayed public judgment, the election ultimately concluded with a victory for Trump. The aftermath of Biden’s blunder not only cost him his political career but also resulted in a complete turnover of power.
Whether it’s the management of classified information or the ability to handle the pendulum swing of public sentiment, the Biden administration and his succeeding vice-president, Kamala Harris, have demonstrated time and again their lack of preparedness. As Biden steps down and his staff are busy packing, one hopes they will take with them the lessons learnt from their disarray, serving as a warning for others about the destructive power of incompetency.