NDAA ADVANCES IN HOUSE: The must-pass annual defense policy bill known as the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, passed the House Armed Services Committee last night after a marathon 17-hour session during which more than 800 amendments were considered.
Despite contentious debate on amendments dealing with the Pentagon’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program and the location of the U.S. Space Command headquarters, in the end the committee vote was nearly unanimous, 58-1, with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) the lone dissenter.
“Providing for our nation’s defense is the top priority for the House Armed Services Committee and I am incredibly proud of the bipartisan work we’ve accomplished in the FY24 NDAA,” said Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL). “This year’s NDAA includes provisions that counter China’s aggression, boost oversight of the Department of Defense, and support our servicemembers and their families. Additionally, this year’s bill saves taxpayers billions of dollars while still making critical investments in innovative technologies and our defense industrial base.”
ROGERS’ SPACECOM LANGUAGE SURVIVES: One of Roger’s pet provisions, which he inserted in the first draft of the NDAA, known as the “chairman’s mark,” attempts to pressure the Air Force into making a final decision on the permanent location of the U.S. Space Command, which is now in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
In the closing days of the Trump administration, the Air Force designated Huntsville, Alabama, as the preferred location for the Space Command, which drew protests from Colorado lawmakers who alleged politics had entered into the selection criteria. At one point former President Donald Trump boasted in a radio interview that he “single-handedly” picked the solidly-red Alabama over blue-state Colorado. “"They wanted it. I said 'Let's go to Alabama.' I love Alabama,” he said in 2021.
Roger’s provision bars any infrastructure improvements at the current SPACECOM headquarters at Peterson Space Force Base until the secretary of the Air Force delivers a report on the selection of a permanent location. In addition the amendment cuts travel funds for the secretary’s office, pending the production of the report..
Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO), whose district includes Colorado Springs, unsuccessfully fought to strip Rogers’s language from the bill but lacked the votes.
CULTURE WAR BATTLES LOOM: The House version of the NDAA now goes to the floor, where it will be subject to more amendments. The Republican-controlled House has been targeting what it considers divisive, “woke” Pentagon policies that conservative lawmakers say detract from the military’s warfighting role and degrade readiness.
A provision that bars funding for drag show performances on any military facility, introduced by Rep. Matt Gaetz, (R-FL) passed 33-26. “How could anyone disagree with this amendment???” Gaetz tweeted.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered an end to drag shows on bases after Gaetz confronted him at an Armed Services Committee hearing earlier this year.
The other looming battleground is over efforts to terminate the Pentagon’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. After a heated debate over amendments that would eliminate the DOD office of chief diversity officer, cut funding for DEI programs, and mandate a review of DEI initiatives, the amendments were tabled for a future vote.
“Our military knows that diversity of our soldiers is a strength,” tweeted Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV), who is black, opposing the amendments. “Some of my colleagues often insist that government should be run like a business. Yet they're focused on creating divisions in the military, instead of following the same practices as our best defense companies.”
An amendment from Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) that passed requires the military to base its accession, assignment, selection, and promotion processes on merit and bans the services from taking into account race and gender during their recruiting processes.
“The Biden DoD’s indefensible race and gender-based treatment of servicemembers is making our military weaker and our nation less safe,” said Banks in a statement. “America’s military became the greatest fighting force in the history of the world by promoting excellence, embracing colorblind principles, and attracting our nation’s best and brightest.”
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HAPPENING TODAY: President Joe Biden hosts Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House this morning, with the goal of strengthening America’s relationship with the world’s most populous country by launching new partnerships in defense, semiconductor manufacturing, and other areas of technology.
Biden meets with Modi in the Oval Office at 10:45 a.m., and the two leaders are scheduled to hold a joint press conference at 12:45 p.m.
Tonight, Biden and first lady Jill Biden host the Modis for an official state dinner.
TECHNOLOGY TO BE FOCUS OF BIDEN-MODI STATE VISIT AS BOTH LEADERS FACE CHALLENGES
COUNTERING CHINA: The House Armed Services version of the NDAA passed last night contains dozens of provisions aimed at confronting the increasingly aggressive policies of China, including several bipartisan recommendations made by the new House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.
“We must put hard power in Xi Jinping’s path before it is too late, and this NDAA is a critical step in that direction,” said Committee Chairman Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) in a statement following the vote.
“We are in the window of maximum danger when it comes to a potential conflict with China over Taiwan,” said Gallagher. “This year’s NDAA advances these objectives by rejecting the Biden administration’s plan to shrink the Navy, conducting urgently-needed oversight of the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, and enhancing cooperation with Taiwan and our allies across the Indo-Pacific. It modernizes our outdated energetics enterprise to make our missiles a more powerful and credible deterrent and ensures the Secretary of Defense has a plan to develop and utilize these missiles in the Indo-Pacific.”
HOUSE BILL STAYS WITHIN DEBT DEAL LIMITS: Despite the bipartisan desire to increase the Pentagon budget to fund more programs to counter China, the committee bill keeps within the spending cap imposed by the debt ceiling compromise brokered by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and signed into law by President Joe Biden.
“In keeping with the debt ceiling agreement, we have authorized a budget of $886 billion. Within that topline, we have made smarter choices to compete with China in the Indo-Pacific and provide for security in Europe, said Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA), vice chair of the Armed Services Committee.
“This year’s bill counters the Biden administration’s policies that have weakened our national defense,” Wittman said in a statement. “For example, this markup expands our naval fleet by procuring nine ships, rejects the administration’s request to retire five battle force ships early, and prioritizes ship maintenance. It also invests in fighter modernization and expands Army force structure.”
SPACECOM FIGHT GETS UGLY: Meanwhile, over in the Senate, Tommy Tuberville’s (R-AL) battle with the Pentagon over abortion policy and the location of Space Command headquarters is becoming more fraught by the day.
Tuberville and fellow Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) are cosponsoring a bill that would bar the government from considering the legality or availability of abortion services when deciding where to lease or build federal buildings.
“Federal building and basing decisions should be based on merit, not a partisan political agenda,” Tuberville said in a press release. “Punishing conservative Americans by keeping federal property out of their states would be an extreme and vindictive move, even for this extremist administration.”
The legislation comes in response to reports that Biden is considering overruling a recommendation that the SPACECOM headquarters move to Alabama because of the state’s restrictive abortion laws and Tuberville’s fight to stop the Pentagon from subsidizing travel so members of the military can get abortions in other states.
“We ought to keep politics out of these decisions and ensure that taxpayer dollars are being invested where they can be most effective,” said Tuberville.
The bill has six co-sponsors, all Republicans, Rick Scott (R-FL), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Josh Hawley (R-MO).
SENATE ARMED SERVICES PANEL DOESN'T ADVANCE BILL TO REVOKE PENTAGON ABORTION POLICY
650 NOMINATIONS IN LIMBO: The fight over abortion policy is causing a lot of angst at the Pentagon. Tuberville has used customary Senate rules to block the promotions of some 250 three-and-four-star promotions.
But the Pentagon says the ripple effect that prevents lower-ranking officers from moving up is beginning to have a real effect on readiness.
“The department has 64 three-and-four-star nominations pending, positions due to rotate soon,” said deputy Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh this week. “Between now and the end of the year, there are approximately 650 general and flag officers that will require Senate confirmation, and without these leaders in place, these holds severely limit the department's ability to ensure the right person is in place at the right time and to ensure our strategic readiness and operational success.”
“These holds set a dangerous precedent and put our military readiness at risk at a time when our military is expected to defend the nation with the acute threat of Russia and address the pacing challenge of the PRC,” Singh said.
WHY TOMMY TUBERVILLE WON'T BACK DOWN ON STALLING 250 MILITARY NOMINEES IN THE SENATE
The Rundown
Washington Examiner: Senate Armed Services panel doesn't advance bill to revoke Pentagon abortion policy
Washington Examiner: US announces $1.3 billion infrastructure aid package for Ukraine
Washington Examiner: Alleged Pentagon leaker Jack Teixeira pleads not guilty to federal charges
Washington Examiner: GOP lawmakers seek to block Biden from using abortion to make Space Command decision
Washington Examiner: Beijing bristles after Biden calls Xi a dictator: ‘Extremely absurd and irresponsible'
Washington Examiner: Why Tommy Tuberville won't back down on stalling 250 military nominees in the Senate
Defense News: GOP Moves To Instate Sea-Launched Cruise Missile Nuclear Program
The Hill: Bipartisan Senate Group Introduces Bill To Force Clean Audit Of Pentagon Funding Amid Price Gouging Concerns
Politico: Republicans Take Aim At Biden Pentagon Policies On Diversity, Climate, Vaccines
Wall Street Journal: Kyiv Reassesses Tactics, Slows Push
New York Times: Western Allies Pledge Billions Toward The Reconstruction Of Ukraine
AP: Need for Speed: F-16 Pilot Calls the Fighter Jets Sought by Ukraine ‘Easy to Fly’
Politico: West Eyes Romania as Possible F-16 Training Site for Ukrainian Pilots
Reuters: U.S. Coast Guard Ship Transited Taiwan Strait After Blinken's China Visit -U.S. Navy
Wall Street Journal: Can Sanctions Threat Deter China From Invading Taiwan? Yes And No, Study Finds
Bloomberg: Gen Z Recruiting Shortfall Prompts Order for New Pentagon Survey
Military Times: Failed Military Recruits Prove Deadly Outliers
USNI News: 3 Ships Join in Search for Missing Submersible Titan
AP: Capitol rioter who shocked police officer with stun gun is sentenced to over 12 years in prison
Air & Space Forces Magazine: AFCENT Boss: Russian Air Force ‘Compensating’ for Ukraine with Dangerous Flights in Syria
Air & Space Forces Magazine: USAF Wants to Dump Old Fighters. Congress Isn’t So Sure
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Lockheed Endorses New Engines For F-35 Over Air Force’s Choice
Military.com: No Air Conditioning, Parts Stashed in Tents: Report Dings US Missile Defense
Defense One: On the Paris Tarmac, Execs Vie for the Next US Tanker Order
DefenseScoop: Upcoming Space Force-NRO Critical Thinking Wargame to Focus on Space Conflict in 2030
Air & Space Forces Magazine: B-52s Make First-Ever Landing in Indonesia to Join Air Exercise
19fortyfive.com: Opinion: Ukraine’s Chances of Victory in 2023 are Vanishingly Small (Daniel Davis)
19fortyfive.com: Opinion: Could Ukraine Turn Into a Nuclear World War III?
Calendar
THURSDAY | JUNE 22
9:30 a.m. 222 Russell — Senate Armed Services Committee full committee CLOSED markup of the proposed National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2024 https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings
11 a.m. Pentagon POW/MIA Corridor — Defense Department 2023 POW/MIA Recognition Day poster unveiling, with Army Secretary Christine Wormuth https://www.dpaa.mil/
12 p.m. — Institute for the Study of War virtual briefing and Q&A session about the “critical next phase” of the war in Ukraine, with Jennifer Cafarella, ISW director of strategic initiatives; and Mason Clark, ISW Russia team lead https://events.zoom.us
1 p.m. HVC-210, U.S. Capitol — House Foreign Affairs Europe Subcommittee hearing: “The Vilnius Summit and War in Ukraine: Assessing U.S. Policy towards Europe and NATO,” with testimony from Laura Cooper, deputy assistant defense secretary for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia; and Douglas Jones, deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian Affairs https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing/the-vilnius-summit
3:30 p.m. — Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies release of policy paper: "Bolstering Arctic Domain Awareness to Deter Air and Missile Threats to the Homeland," with Gen. Glen VanHerck, commander, U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command; and retired Air Force Lt. Gen. David Deptula, dean, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/event/6-22-policy-paper-release
FRIDAY | JUNE 23
9:30 a.m. 222 Russell — Senate Armed Services Committee full committee CLOSED markup of the proposed National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2024 https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings
10:30 a.m. — American Enterprise Institute remarks and a conversation: “The Future of US-China Policy,” with Republican 2024 presidential candidate Nikki Haley; Zack Cooper, senior fellow, AEI; and Robert Doar, president, AEI https://www.aei.org/events/remarks-and-a-conversation-with-amb-nikki-haley
11 a.m. River Entrance — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin welcomes Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto to the Pentagon
MONDAY | JUNE 26
3 p.m. — Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies release of policy paper: “Building U.S. Space Force Counterspace Capabilities: An Imperative for America’s Defense,” with author Charles Galbreath, senior resident fellow for space studies, Mitchell Institute; Maj. Gen. David Miller, director of operations, U.S. Space Force; Robert Atkin, vice president, special space systems, General Atomics; and moderated by retired Air Force Gen. Kevin Chilton https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/event/6-27-policy-paper-release
WEDNESDAY | JUNE 28
12 p.m. — The Cyber Initiatives Group 2023 Summer Summit featuring “top cyber leaders discussing emerging cyber-related national security challenges” https://register.gotowebinar.com/register
THURSDAY | JUNE 29
10:30 a.m. — Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies release of policy paper: “Accelerating 5th-Generation Airpower: Bringing Capability and Capacity to the Merge,” with author and retired Lt. Gen. Joseph Guastella, former deputy Air Force chief of staff for operations and senior fellow, Mitchell Institute; Douglas Birkey, executive director, Mitchell Institute; Eric Gunzinger, former F-35 program manager for flight simulation test and evaluation; and retired Air Force Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, former commander, U.S. Air Forces Europe, U.S. Air Forces Africa, and Allied Air Command https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/event/6-29-policy-paper-release]
FRIDAY | JULY 7
7 a.m. Brussels, Belgium — NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg holds a news conference to preview the NATO summit in Vilnius https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news
“Federal building and basing decisions should be based on merit, not a partisan political agenda. Punishing conservative Americans by keeping federal property out of their states would be an extreme and vindictive move, even for this extremist administration.”
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), in a statement introducing legislation to stop the Biden administration from blocking move of SPACECOM headquarters to Alabama based on the state’s restrictive abortion laws.