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Added on the 07/12/2020 19:31:46 - Copyright : Wochit
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.
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.
Former national security adviser John Bolton didn't mince words after US President Donald Trump vetoed the annual bill to fund the US military. Trump's chief complaint with the bill is that it called for the renaming of military bases named after Confederate military figures. The must-pass, $741 billion bill was passed with widespread bipartisan support. According to Business Insider, Bolton told Trump to 'get out of the way,' and said Trump was 'not a conservative.' Trump's former national security adviser also described Trump's 'destructive' veto as a 'purely gratuitous action' and 'selfish.' There's very little you can do to repair your reputation, but for God's sakes, get out of the way of the national security of the US and get out of the way of our efforts to overcome the pandemic. John Bolton Former National Security Adviser, Trump Administration
The Washington Post reports the Trump administration has prevented Joe Biden's transition team from meeting with US intelligence leaders. Biden's team has reportedly not yet been able to meet with officials at agencies including the NSA and the Defense Intelligence Agency. Both those agencies are controlled by the Pentagon. Business Insider reports that the Pentagon has denied any efforts to stifle the team's smooth transition period. The Pentagon said that requested meetings could take place as early as next week.
Pres. Elect Joe Biden is considering nominating a woman as the head of the Pentagon. Business Insider reports that Biden is considering Michele Flournoy, a politically moderate Pentagon veteran. She has years of experience in the Department of Defense and is regarded by US officials as a top choice for the position. Her possible appointment would end a tumultuous period under Pres. Trump that has seen five men hold the job in the last four years. If she is confirmed, Flournoy could be put in charge of deploying the military to distribute a coronavirus vaccine.
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