The House Freedom Caucus has declared that they will not support a temporary spending bill unless it includes language on border security, new laws to address the “weaponization” of the Justice Department and FBI, and a shift in some of the Pentagon’s policies. This announcement has increased the chances of a government shutdown, as the provisions they are demanding are likely to be opposed by Senate Democrats and the White House. The Freedom Caucus has been a powerful force in the House since 2015, and their latest statement makes it clear that they will not support any bill that does not include their demands.
Posts tagged as “the Department of Defense”
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has criticized Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville's hold on hundreds of military promotions, calling it an "unprecedented" move that threatens the country's safety. This hold is the first time in the history of the Department of Defense that three of the military services are operating without Senate-confirmed leaders, and Austin has urged the Senate to do its job and confirm the president's nominees. Tuberville has yet to comment on Austin's remarks.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., appeared confused during a vote on a defense appropriations bill Thursday, prompting a fellow Democratic senator to step in. Feinstein, 90, had been away from Washington, D.C., for shingles and complications from shingles earlier this year, and the bill was passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday. It provides $823 billion in funding for the Department of Defense and other national security programs, and will now move to the full Senate for consideration.
The Pentagon has blocked a U.S. Air Force base in Nevada from hosting a drag show in celebration of Pride Month, citing current Department of Defense policy. The decision has been met with criticism from LGBTQ activists and allies, who argue that the military should be more inclusive of its LGBTQ members. The Human Rights Campaign has released a statement saying the decision “sends a dangerous message that the military is not a welcoming place for LGBTQ service members and their families.”
The Biden administration is responding to the potential influx of migrants by deploying 1,500 active-duty troops to the US-Mexico border for 90 days. The troops will provide operational support to US immigration authorities, but will not use force or make arrests. Rep. Tony Gonzales has warned that the situation is "getting worse" and has called on the Biden administration to address the root causes of migration.
Key takeaways: The Joint Staff began examining its distribution lists immediately after learning of the trove of leaked classified documents. The Pentagon has now taken…
The Pentagon and US Department of Justice are investigating the leak of classified documents related to Ukraine's war effort and military strength. The documents, which were posted on social media, cover a range of topics from US support for Ukraine to information about key US allies. It is unclear at this time who is responsible for the leak or what the consequences may be.
The U.S. Department of Defense has announced that President Biden has authorized precision airstrikes against facilities in eastern Syria used by groups affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in response to an attack on a coalition base in northeast Syria that resulted in the death of one U.S. contractor and the injury of five U.S. service members and one other U.S. contractor. The U.S. Central Command forces retaliated with “precision airstrikes” against the facilities and the Department of Defense is still assessing the damage caused and working to identify the perpetrators of the attack.