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Added on the 11/11/2020 12:36:06 - Copyright : France 24 EN
The Defense Business Board is a Pentagon advisory group that has recently undergone a purge at the hands of the Trump administration. Now, one of the survivors of that purge has resigned in protest. Business Insider reports Steve Blank wrote in his resignation letter that President Donald Trump's administration has endangered the nation. My service to the Department of Defense was a service to the country not to a party. I hereby tender my resignation. Steve Blank Former Member, US Defense Business Board Business Insider reports the purge of the Defense Business Board last week followed the removal of most of the Defense Policy Board late last month. The Trump administration has also purged much of the Pentagon's civilian leadership, clearing the way for loyalists to fill top posts. All the vacancies created by the purge are to be filled by Trump loyalists.
As lame duck President Donald Trump purges his administration, the Pentagon's top intelligence official has resigned in protest. According to Business Insider, Joseph Kernan, Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security, walked off the job on Tuesday. The Pentagon says Kernan's departure had been planned for months, but it notably comes the same day two other Department of Defense officials resigned. Kernan's announcement came one day after Trump fired Secretary of Defense Mark Esper by tweet, saying Esper had been 'terminated.' It also comes amid the resignation of the chief of staff to the Secretary of Defense Jen Stewart and acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy James Anderson. Writing in a statement that 'it appears that chaos has now reached the Pentagon,' Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) was just one of many lawmakers sounding the alarm.
Business Insider is reporting details of the Trump Administrations Purge of the Pentagon and Department of Defense. The Trump administration has reportedly gutted the Pentagon's Defense Policy Board. They removed most of its 13 members. A US defense official confirmed to Insider that some members had been removed. Acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller said in a statement that he looks forward "to naming new board members in the coming days." The changes to the Defense Policy Board saw the departure of advisors like former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. They come on the heels of a major shake-up of the Pentagon's civilian leadership earlier this month.
US President Joe Biden maintains "complete confidence" in the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff after a book reported that the top US general secretly contacted China amid worries that Donald Trump was out of control, the White House says. "The president has complete confidence in his leadership, his patriotism and his fidelity to our constitution," Press Secretary Jen Psaki tells reporters during a press briefing in Washington, DC. SOUNDBITE
The top Republican in the House of Representatives says that Donald Trump "bears responsibility" for inciting a riot at the US Capitol, in a floor speech an hour before a bipartisan majority is expected to impeach the president for an unprecedented second time. SOUNDBITE
"I believe impeaching the president in such a short time frame would be a mistake," House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy warns in a floor speech an hour before a bipartisan majority is expected to impeach Donald Trump for an unprecedented second time. SOUNDBITE