The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Charles Q. Brown, held a video call with his Chinese counterpart, Gen. Liu Zhenli, marking the highest level of military communication between the two countries since July 2022. The call is a result of the commitment by President Biden and Chinese President Xi to resume this type of communication. The lack of military-to-military communication became a concern during the Chinese spy balloon incident, and the resumption of communication aims to prevent competition from escalating into conflict.
The Senate has confirmed Gen. David Allvin as the new Air Force chief of staff in a 95-1 vote. Allvin, who has been serving as the Air Force vice chief of staff, takes over the position during a time of significant change and challenges for the Air Force. He will manage a $180 billion budget and oversee 689,000 uniformed and civilian employees worldwide. Allvin's confirmation fills the last vacant spot on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Gen. C.Q. Brown Jr., the new Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is taking a different approach from his predecessor, Gen. Mark Milley, by staying out of politics and focusing on the job at hand. Brown, known for his quiet and steady demeanor, is now overseeing U.S. support for both Israel and Ukraine as they face conflicts. While Milley made headlines with his outspokenness, Brown prefers to listen and make decisions based on consensus. He will need to navigate the challenges of balancing military assistance for both regions and work with limited resources due to political holds on senior promotions. Brown's approach is seen as a positive change for the relationship between the military and political leaders.
The new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Charles Q. Brown, warned Iran not to get involved in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, as U.S. officials express concerns that Iran-backed Hezbollah might open a second front. The U.S. military is providing support to Israel by surging air defenses, munitions, and other equipment, and repositioning military vessels to send a strong message of support and deterrence. Gen. Brown also compared Hamas to the Islamic State in its actions.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, honored the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks at a ceremony at the Pentagon. They paid tribute to the 184 lives lost and emphasized the enduring memory of the defense community. Austin acknowledged the ongoing pain and assured that the Department of Defense will always remember. Milley highlighted the resilience of Americans in the face of terror and their commitment to upholding the values that bind the nation together. Both leaders emphasized the call to service and vowed to honor the legacy of those who lost their lives by defending democracy and keeping America safe.
Outgoing Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville retired, leaving the Army without a uniformed leader who can act with the full force of Senate confirmation, due to Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville's eight-month hold on military promotions. The hold, which affects 301 senior military officers, is in protest of the Pentagon's policy on reimbursing troops for seeking abortions. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed concern over the impact on military readiness and the lives of military families. The Marine Corps is also without a confirmed leader. The Senate is expected to resume the confirmation process in September.
President Joe Biden has nominated Adm. Lisa Franchetti as the Navy's next top officer, making her the first woman in the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin presented Biden with options, including Adm. Samuel Paparo, who leads the U.S. Pacific Fleet, as his recommendation. Biden ultimately chose Franchetti due to her qualifications and background. The decision is seen as a historic move in line with Biden's commitment to diversity in his administration. The announcement also included other personnel changes within the Navy's leadership structure.
President Biden has nominated Adm. Lisa Franchetti to become the first woman to lead the U.S. Navy and join the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Franchetti, currently the vice chief of Naval Operations, has 38 years of service and is the second woman to reach the rank of four-star admiral in the Navy. Her nomination overruled Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's recommendation. However, her confirmation may face delays due to Sen. Tommy Tuberville's obstruction over Defense Department abortion policy. If confirmed, Franchetti's appointment would be another historic choice by the Biden administration.
President Biden has nominated Admiral Lisa Franchetti to become the first woman to lead the U.S. Navy in its 247-year history. Currently serving as the Navy's second in command, Admiral Franchetti would also become a permanent member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff if confirmed. Her nomination marks a significant milestone for women in the military, and she is praised for her extensive operational and policy experience.
Air Force Gen. C.Q. Brown, President Biden's nominee for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned senators that the indefinite blockade of senior officer promotions, initiated by Sen. Tommy Tuberville in protest of Pentagon abortion policies, could lead to a brain drain in the military. Gen. Brown highlighted the potential impact on junior officers and military families, as well as the loss of talent due to the challenges posed by the delay. Over 250 senior promotions are currently pending, and the impasse has already affected the Joint Chiefs, with the Marine Corps having an acting commandant for the first time in over a century. Tuberville shows no signs of relenting, and Democrats criticized him for punishing military personnel for a policy they had no control over.
Senator Tommy Tuberville, a Republican from Alabama, has been blocking hundreds of promotions for high-ranking generals and admirals since February in an attempt to reverse the Pentagon's policy ensuring abortion access for service members. This partisan dispute over social policy is now threatening the smooth transfer of power within the armed forces, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff. More than half of the current Joint Chiefs are expected to step down without a Senate-approved successor in place, leaving the military's top advisory body in a state of flux. The Biden administration and Senate Democrats have condemned Tuberville's actions, while some Republicans express concerns about the impact on military readiness. Efforts to dissuade Tuberville have failed, and Senate leaders are hesitant to legitimize his protest. The impasse may be resolved through public pressure and potential changes to the defense authorization bill in the House.
North Korea fired an unidentified ballistic missile towards the East Sea, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff. No further details have been released at this time.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has recommended Adm. Samuel Paparo as the Navy's highest-ranking officer instead of Adm. Lisa Franchetti, who was widely believed to be the front-runner and would have been the first female service member to hold the job and the first female member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Paparo's nomination has been sent to the White House, but President Joe Biden has not yet signed it. Some inside the Pentagon may not be happy with the decision to pass over Franchetti during the week the U.S. military celebrates the 75th anniversary of women joining the armed forces.
Federal prosecutors investigating former President Donald Trump's handling of classified material have obtained a recording of him discussing a sensitive military document he kept after leaving the White House. The recording, made during a meeting in July 2021, could undermine Trump's claim that he had already declassified material that remained in his possession after leaving office. Prosecutors are scrutinizing whether Trump obstructed efforts by federal officials to retrieve documents he took with him after leaving office and whether he violated laws governing the handling of classified material. The recording could help prosecutors undercut any argument by Trump that the documents he had taken from the White House upon leaving office were declassified.
President Biden's nominee for Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., received high-profile endorsements from top-ranking lawmakers, industry officials, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. However, Brown's confirmation process may face complications due to Sen. Tommy Tuberville's block on more than 200 senior military appointments and Republican Senators' objections to "woke" policies within the Pentagon. Brown is likely to face pointed questions on military recruiting and retention, sexual harassment in the ranks, suicide, munitions stocks, defense budget levels in Ukraine, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and China.
