Senior reporter covering U.S. Congress and national security for Bloomberg @BGOV•Transylvania born•AUBG & Syracuse grad•opinions my own
Washington, DC
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BREAKING: Senate defense appropriations bill is out giving the Pentagon more than $10 billion than requested, $725.8 billion
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Breaking: The Comfort hospital ship won’t be able to go to NYC for weeks, @ChiefPentSpox says. Ship is in maintenance in Norfolk, Va., and Pentagon is now expediting maintenance
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New: Reps. @AOC and @GerryConnolly have an amdt to defense authorization bill that seeks to ban $$ for "weapons or military aid or military training to Saudi Arabia’s Rapid Intervention Force, the unit responsible for the murder of U.S. journalist Jamal Khashoggi."
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Just in: Senate just voice confirmed Kathleen Hicks to be Deputy Secretary of Defense per @NOgnanovich
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NEW: U.S. sending 800 anti-aircraft systems, 9000 anti-armor systems (high accuracy shoulder- mounted missiles), 7000 small arms, ammo and mortars (20 million rounds), Biden announces. In one week Biden greenlit$1 billion in military assistance
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Breaking: Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and 30 Democratic members speak out after defense chief Mark Esper refused to appear before the panel and explain the recent use of the military in response to peaceful protesters in D.C.
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BREAKING: Gillibrand's military justice bill makes it into the annual defense authorization bill
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News: @RandPaul tells me that he wants to see an amendment considered to the defense authorization bill that blocks U.S. funds going to the Taliban. He’s in discussion about amendments and said he may not agree to speed up NDAA cloture vote and instead to it the “hard way”
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Some good news: Four young children hiding in a Kabul apartment have landed in the US -- and will soon reunite with their mother - CNN cnn.com/2021/08/29/us/four-c…
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YOU CAN'T HIDE: House Democrats just included a self-executing amendment to a spending package coming to the floor that would ban Pentagon for getting any funding if military and contractors deployed to protests do not wear clearly visible identification; @NitaLowey
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Lloyd Austin will be sworn in at the Pentagon shortly and start his first day on the job right away to include meetings with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Covid briefing, NATO phone call and operational briefings
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@NitaLowey and Defense subcmte Chairman Pete Visclosky said in statement about Pentagon reprogramming: While some of our Republican colleagues will lament the President’s decision, they enabled this theft by blocking our efforts to stop the President from raiding defense accounts
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NEW: House votes 244-179 to limit the sale of F-16s to Turkey. Bipartisan provision would prohibit the sale of F-16s unless President Biden it's in the national interest and that Turkey won't use the F-16s for unauthorized territorial overflights of Greece
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Refusal: Am told that Defense Secretary Mark Esper @EsperDoD and Gen. Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, have refused a request to appear before the House Armed Services next week to publicly testify about military’s role during protests; did not offer alternative dates
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SCOOP: Tuberville Military Blockade Muddles New Nuclear Oversight. The hold on military promotions is impeding oversight of a multi-billion dollar project to replace and overhaul the aging US intercontinental ballistic missile arsenal
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The Ukrainian flag signed by the soldiers in Bakhmut and given to Pelosi and VP Harris by Ukrainian president Zelenskiy on Wed during his address to Congress has been framed
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New: @SpeakerPelosi doesn't appear to have an issue with retired Gen. Lloyd Austin needing a waiver to become Defense Secretary. Says he is "particularly well-positioned to lead during this precarious moment, as we work to bring our troops home safely from Afghanistan."
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Just in: “We have been informed that they will not appear as requested. This is unacceptable. We insist that they appear before our committee. Our military leaders are sworn to be accountable to the people of this country, & Congress is constitutionally responsible for oversight”
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The House just adopted by voice vote an amendment by @RepMTG that would reduce the @SecDef Lloyd Austin's salary to no more than $1
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“The House Armed Services Committee made the request and it has been denied. That is simply unacceptable.”
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“Events of this past week involving the Department of Defense and the federal government’s response to the nation-wide protests have been deeply troubling and leave a number of pressing questions unanswered.”
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SCOOP: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are moving to bring the defense authorization bill for a vote in both chambers, likely testing President Donald Trump’s threat to veto the bill
about.bgov.com/news/pelosi-a… (w/@NOgnanovich)
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@JimInhofe himself confirmed to reporters today that Warren's provision is in the final defense bill (h/t @elwasson)
A Warren aide confirms that her provision to remove the names of Confederate generals from military bases over a three-year period has been included in the final NDAA.
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!!VP Harris breaks the 50-50 tie to discharge Colin Kahl's nomination from the Senate Armed Services Committee
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Breaking: House votes to change the Insurrection Act of 1807 after President Trump threatened to deploy active-duty troops to quell nationwide protests in June. He never did but left a mark with lawmakers who are now backing a request for certification to deploy troops to cities
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The Pentagon let $28 billion expire in fiscal 2018—money that can’t be used for new spending. Quite a gem we found @business @bgov in the Pentagon IG report on the financial audit. So all that wrangling over defense spending seems like DoD couldn’t spend $28b #audit @ACapaccio
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ALSO: Federal employees and federal law enforcement wouldn't get paid if they deploy to protests without clearly identifying uniforms; if responding in civilian capacity they cannot wear combat-style uniforms
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Austin says that he backs Biden's plan to overturn the ban on transgender people serving in the military on Day One. So tomorrow
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The '23 defense authorization act created an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Site Activation Task Force at the Air Force Global Strike Command. The newly-established task force must be run by a general officer. More TK + weblink. w/ @ACapaccio
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Exclusive from @RepAdamSmith: The Pentagon will be stripped of its ability to shift funds if it doesn’t get buy-in from congressional defense committees for reprogramming $2.5b ultimately meant for the border wall. “We will zero out their reprogramming authority” for FY’20 @BGOV
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House handily defeats @RepMTG amendment to cut the authorization for $300m in Ukraine security assistance. Vote was 89-341
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New: U.S. Army started testing coronavirus vaccine today. Private vaccine testing at Fort Derrick, Md., @ChiefPentSpox says
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We did some math @BGOV to show how much 15k troops cost. The personnel costs are already accounted for in budget, but many other factors could add to the bill. We talk about $700b defense budget but don’t think of cost per person, per day. about.bgov.com/blog/trumps-t…
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🚨NEWS: National security spending to surpass $800 billion in President Biden’s plan for 2023: bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
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News: Senate approved 90-10 (h/t @NOgnanovich) an amendment by @JimInhofe that would ban transfer of bayonets, grenades, weaponized tracked combat vehicles and armed drones to police depts and includes training for deescalation and protecting citizens constitutional rights
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Scoop: The US will be allowed to transfer Virginia-class attack submarines to Australia one year after the defense authorization bill is enacted--a compromise solving one of the hold ups for the massive bill.
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NEW: House Defense Panel Restricts Troop Withdrawal from Germany; HASC approves amendment by @RubenGallego. Pentagon wouldn’t be allowed to spend money to reduce active-duty forces levels in Germany until the defense leaders certifies that it is in the best interest for U.S. sec
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Senate kills effort to repeal war resolution, 61-36. At the very least, @RandPaul put lawmakers on record showing no political appetite
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NEW: House voted to provide $300 million in security aid to Ukraine but 117 No votes were all Republican even after aid became stand alone legislation. Meanwhile defense spending bill passed largely along party lines with 2 Democrats voting in favor
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News: You know things are bad when the bipartisan #coronavirus rescue package includes language prohibiting the Pentagon from transferring any of the dedicated funds to build a border wall. Reminder: Pentagon transferred $3.8b this year already
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Gen. Mark Milley backs (and suggests) the creation of permanent forward-deployed bases in Eastern Europe, including Romania, where U.S. troops will cycle through but not be permanently stationed.
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Defense Department to give funds to commissary stores so that members of the military can buy food at a cheaper prices amid inflation woes. Prices likely will drop by 25 % and in particular for staples such as milk, eggs etc, @PentagonPresSec Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters
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Breaking @business: The U.S. will push Germany to agree to stop the contested Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline if Russian President Vladimir Putin invades Ukraine, according to documents seen by Bloomberg and people familiar with the plans. @AlbertoNardelli @vanessadezem have the scoop
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!!Senate will not only hand Trump the first veto override of his presidency but it is also setting in motion the process to start changing the names of military bases honoring Confederate generals and removing other remnants of the Confederacy
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Did someone say Admiral? House backs amendment to model Space Force ranks after the U.S. Navy. cc @dave_brown24 @BryanDBender @Travis_Tritten @Oriana0214 I guess now my bad jokes about space *ships* will be boundless
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Actual article here: Defense Chief, Top General Refuse to Testify Before House Panel @BGOV @business about.bgov.com/news/defense-…
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.@LeaderHoyer exclusively tells @elwasson that the House will have enough votes to OVERRIDE Trump's veto of the defense authorization bill
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News: Just as expected, the compromise defense bill doesn't have any Nord Stream 2 sanctions at all, not even the amendment included on the House floor.
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@RepAdamSmith says the Democrats fear of "right-wing militia" is overblown & doesn't agree w/ the House going out of session. "We cannot jump every time they say 'Boo'!"
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Confirmed w/@HouseInSession that they have a deal to extend Sec 702 of FISA into April and include it on the defense authorization bill
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Breaking: HASC adopts @RepAnthonyBrown amendment to rename military bases bearing Confederate general names
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it’s something the White House really wanted; Democrats would get two major wins in the compromise measure: repeal of of the ‘widow’s tax’ (phased in over 3yrs) and 12-week parental leave for federal employees; @RepAdamSmith hinted earlier he was pleased with leave provision
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NEW: .@SenatorShaheen introduces bipartisan legislation to increase number of authorized Afghan Special Immigrant visas by 20,000 & remove extraneous paperwork requirements ahead of U.S.troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. Co-sponsors: @SenatorDurbin @SenJoniErnst @SenatorWicker
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H/t to @connorobrienNH who was first to report there won’t be a hearing. Interesting that it is not just a conflicting schedule.
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The House has enough votes to grant a waiver to Lloyd Austin to serve as secretary of defense. The vote is ongoing
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Chris Miller was as the top counterterrorism official at the NSC where his portfolio was largely focused on what Trump sees as among his biggest foreign policy victories: hostage recovery and the campaign against Islamic State terrorists, @JenniferJJacobs & @justinsink report
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Mattis resigning is going to create shudders throughout the world. NATO allies were relying on his steady hand, troops appreciated how much he cares. He will be hard to replace at this moment.
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BREAKING: defense bill is finally filed. Covid vaccine mandate is rescinded, Manchin permitting bill is OUT, Boeing Max certification extension out as well
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Breaking: House votes to ban explosive nuclear weapons testing #FY21NDAA
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New: Army says it’s slated to test a coronavirus vaccine on humans this summer; so far tests are done on small animals
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News: Democrats are introducing legislation in both House&Senate to revise the Insurrection Act of 1807: Progressive Ds in the House would require prior congressional authorization while Senate Ds want the act to be invoked only to protect civil rights not restrict them
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New: State Department has finally notified Congress it plans to sell 250 Abrams tanks (worth about $6B) to Poland, months after Poland was touting the intent to get these tanks. Notification comes as Europe on edge about Russia’s possible invasion of Ukraine
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Scoop w/ @ACapaccio: President Joe Biden plans to request $715 billion for his first Pentagon budget, a decrease from Trump-era spending trends.
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.@BGOV scoop: Sen. McCain said to return to Washington to oversee defense authorization May 1; @JimInhofe tells me McCain suggested the date
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!Confirmed: U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee voted to boost the Pentagon's budget by $25 billion above the $715 billion request. The additional money likely covers a whole host of unfunded requirements--the wish list mil services send to Congress after the official budget
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Senate votes 95-1 to cut of debate on nomination of Gen. David Allvin to be the Air Force chief of staff, moving directly to his confirmation
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Changes to the way sexual assault and major crimes (above a year of prison) will be handled, i.e. the gist of Gillibrand's bill to take decision making out of the chain of command
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House Armed Services panel approves by voice vote an amendment by Rep. Mike Johnson to require report bt Dec 31, 2021 in the origins of COVID-19 global pandemic, incl detailed detailed analysis of coronavirus research conducted at the Wuhan Institute of Virology
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🚨Just now: The US House defeated conservative Republicans’ efforts to cut off security assistance to Ukraine, cementing a wall of support across both political parties for that country’s fight against Russia’s invasion. w/@StevenTDennis @business @BGOV
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Ukrainian President getting a short tour in the Capitol with Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer. Minority Leader McConnell also joined them before they all walked to the House side
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NEW @business @BGOV: A tech start up, Enigma Labs, is planning one ambitious project: building a repository to score and crowdsource UFO incidents worldwide. w/ @Reporter_Mia
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
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.@SenJackReed is saying on Senate floor that the U.S. needs to add at least another 20k Afghanistan Special Immigrant Visas and perhaps consider that another category of visas may also apply to those who have helped U.S. troops in Afghanistan
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House Armed Services Cmte adopts 33-23
@RepAnthonyBrown's
amendment to rename military bases bearing Confederate general names #FY21NDAA
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Breaking: Final Override Vote in Senate: 81-13. Trump is handed the first and only veto override of his presidency
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BREAKING @JimInhofe says that Majority Leader @senatemajldr will bring the defense authorization bill to the floor "immediately" --which he says that he takes that to mean early next week h/t @elwasson
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New: U.S. House Oversight and Reform panel’s bipartisan leaders are asking for an investigation into what led to the collapse of the Afghan government and military forces. In letter to SIGAR, they ask for impact of Taliban’s return to power on U.S. national security & Afghan ppl
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Breaking: @RepAdamSmith sends letter to Defense Chief Esper: sent a criticizing his unwillingness to appear before the committee and failure to provide written answer to questions regarding the use of military forces in response to protests
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BREAKING: Conferees have finished the 2020 defense authorization bill #NDAA @RepAdamSmith says; bill headed to printer before it gets the signatures @BGOV @business
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100 % no way this ends up in any final legislation or negotiation. But this is what the House is up to at the moment. Vital issues
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Show Your Name: The amendment by Rep. Chrissy Houlahan was adopted by voice vote and would require federal law enforcement officers deployed during events such as protests to be clearly identified by name and agency visible on their uniform or other clothing.
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Breaking: After more than 6 hours of amendment votes, the U.S. House passes 316-113 the fiscal year 2022 defense authorization bill that defies President Biden's Pentagon budget request boosting spending authorization by $25 billion. Let's do this again in the Senate, people!
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New: h/t to @ACapaccio for his fact-sleuthing skills bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
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House Appropriations Cmte also backs the repeal of the 2002 Iraq war authorization; this amendment by @RepBarbaraLee was approved by voice vote
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