The Trump administration’s refusal to recognise President-elect Joe Biden’s victory could have long-term consequences for the incoming president’s agenda, particularly in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A new study warns that an abbreviated transition could impair Biden’s ability to fill the more than 1200 administration jobs requiring Senate confirmation, including key Cabinet and sub-Cabinet posts on the front lines of addressing the outbreak.

The paper from the Centre for Presidential Transition at the nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service examined the different pace of confirmations for President George W Bush, whose transition didn’t begin until after the Florida recount concluded in 2000, and President Barack Obama.

Obama was able to confirm twice the number of Senate-approved appointments, including national security postings, at the 100-day mark than his predecessor, who had a shorter period to plan to assume the White House.

“Further delays by the General Services Administration in recognising the outcome of the Nov. 3 election could impede the ability of President-elect Joe Biden to make timely and critical appointments for key COVID-19 and national security-related positions, thereby weakening the government’s ability to protect our nation and distribute life-saving vaccines,” the report says.