THE CHAIRMAN’S MARK: House Armed Services Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) has released his “chairman’s mark” of the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, and as the name implies, it lays down markers for what Rogers would like to see in the annual must-pass policy bill.
“The FY24 NDAA puts our national security first by boosting innovation, providing for our warfighters, and focusing on our defense industrial base – supplying our military with the tools necessary to counter the unprecedented threats our nation faces from China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran,” Rogers said in a statement. “Providing for our national defense is the most important task given to Congress by the U.S. Constitution – the NDAA is a critical part of fulfilling that duty.”
The Armed Services subcommittees begin marking up (proposing and adopting amendments) to various sections of the bill today, with a final mark-up session set for a week from tomorrow, June 21.
FORCING THE AIR FORCE TO DECIDE: One of Roger’s more contentious provisions would halt any further improvements to the headquarters of the U.S. Space Command, currently “temporarily” located in Colorado, until the Air Force announces a permanent location for the headquarters. The draft bill would also ratchet up the pressure by cutting the Air Force secretary’s travel budget in half until a decision is made.
The Alabama delegation is frustrated that more than two years after Huntsville, Alabama, was rated first under the Air Force’s selection criteria, the Biden administration has made no decision to go through with the move from Colorado.
The administration is reportedly concerned about moving personnel to a state with strict abortion limits, especially as some Republicans, led by Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, are trying to force the Pentagon to rescind its policy of providing paid time off and travel expenses for servicemembers based in places where abortions and other reproductive services are not available.
TIME TO GIVE UP ON OLDER LCS: In a separate mark released by the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, lawmakers signaled they are ready to grant a request to decommission at least two of the littoral combat ships the Navy says are not worth operating.
At the same time, the subcommittee would bar the Navy from scuttling three Whidbey Island-class dock landing ships and two Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers.
The draft legislation would provide funding for nine battle force ships, including two Virginia-class submarines; one Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine; two Arleigh Burke destroyers; two guided missile frigates; and a 31st amphibious transport dock ship.
The Marine Corps has told Congress a fleet of a 31st amphibious ship is the bare minimum it needs to counter China.
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HAPPENING TODAY: The Senate Armed Services Committee takes up the nomination of Gen. Eric Smith to be the commandant of the Marine Corps. The 9:30 a.m confirmation hearing comes as outgoing Commandant Gen. David Berger discusses “Leading Change in a High-Stakes World” at a 10 a.m. Heritage Foundation event.
ALSO TODAY: President Joe Biden meets with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg at the White House at 1 p.m. after yesterday’s scheduled meeting was postponed because the president needed a root-canal procedure.
Stoltenberg meets this morning with Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the State Department at 11 a.m., and Blinken is scheduled to join the afternoon session at the White House.
“The agenda for the meeting with the secretary-general is going to be pretty wide-ranging, obviously. It’s going to be very, very focused on Ukraine and what the alliance is doing to support Ukraine, what the United States is going to continue to do to support Ukraine,” said NSC spokesman John Kirby at a White House briefing.
As Ukraine’s counteroffensive is picking up momentum and as it’s beginning to suffer losses of Western-supplied tanks and armored vehicles, the U.S. will be announcing another aid package worth $325 million today, ahead of this week’s donor session in Brussels.
“You’re going to see some additional drawdown packages coming from the United States,” Kirby said. “It won’t surprise you that the kinds of things you’ll see us continue to give Ukraine are the kinds of things that we know they need in this particular fight.”
‘GAPS IN ACCOUNTABILITY’ FOUND IN US MILITARY AID TO UKRAINE, INSPECTOR GENERAL SAYS
REPLACING DESTROYED STRYKERS, BRADLEYS: The aid package will address immediate needs, according to a report from Voice of America, which quoted defense officials as saying the U.S. will send more Stryker and Bradley armored fighting vehicles to replace those damaged and destroyed in the Ukrainian counteroffensive.
“The officials said the latest aid also includes munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), along with more rockets for Ukraine’s High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS),” the VOA report said.
The White House confirmed Ukraine’s forces are involved in fierce fighting, but it is staying away from characterizing the degree of success Ukraine is achieving.
“Look, offensive operations, combat is happening. There’s no question about that,” said Kirby. “But it’s up to President Zelensky to characterize it, not us. And it’s certainly going to be up to the Ukrainian Armed Forces to speak to the give-and-take on any given day.”
A LITERAL FOG OF WAR: Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said yesterday that Ukrainian forces have advanced 6.5 km (4 miles) and retaken 90 square kilometers (55 square miles) of territory over the past week in both the eastern and southern axes, according to the Institute for the Study of War.
But Ukrainian troops are not just battling Russian forces but also bad weather. “Although the weather is unfavorable these days – the rains make our task more difficult – the strength of our warriors still yields results,” tweeted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “The battles are fierce, but we are moving forward, and this is very important. The enemy’s losses are exactly what we need.”
The weather has grounded much of Russia’s air cover, reported the ISW, citing Russian mill bloggers. “Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces managed to make tactical gains on June 11 due to heavy rain and fog preventing Russian Aerospace Forces and army aviation (rotary wing aircraft) from striking Ukrainian force concentrations.”
UKRAINIAN DEFENSE LEADER SAYS TROOPS HAVE RETAKEN FIRST VILLAGES IN COUNTEROFFENSIVE
HISTORY MAY HAVE TO WAIT: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has reportedly recommended Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander of the Navy’s Pacific Fleet, to be the next chief of naval operations.
If President Joe Biden signs off on the nomination, he will bypass the opportunity to make history by appointing the first woman to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the current vice chief of naval operations, had been seen as the frontrunner for the job, while Paparo, with his extensive experience in the Indo-Pacific, was expected to become the combatant commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
Biden has not yet formally signed off on Paparo’s nomination, officials told the Associated Press.
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The Rundown
Washington Examiner: Twenty-two US servicemembers injured in helicopter ‘mishap’ in Syria
Washington Examiner: Ukrainian defense leader says troops have retaken first villages in counteroffensive
Washington Examiner: At least 3 killed in Russian missile attack on Zelensky’s hometown
Washington Examiner: Chechens align with Russian Defense Ministry against mercenary Wagner Group
Washington Examiner: ‘Gaps in accountability’ found in US military aid to Ukraine, inspector general says
Washington Examiner: Chinese component found in Iranian drone Russia used in Ukraine, investigators allege
Washington Examiner: US citizen arrested on drug charges in Russia
Washington Examiner: Italy urges China to scrap ‘any kind of support’ for Russia
Washington Examiner: Blinken points finger at Trump administration on Chinese spy base in Cuba
Washington Examiner: Opinion: Why did John Kirby mislead over China spy base in Cuba?
Washington Examiner: Al Qaeda-affiliated officials help lead Taliban government, UN report finds
Washington Examiner: What should we make of UFO whistleblower David Grusch?
New York Times: NATO Members Use a Major Air Exercise to Send a Message to Russia
New York Times: Fear and Mayhem as Russia’s War Comes Home
Reuters: China Holds Live-Fire Drills In East China Sea North Of Taiwan
Air & Space Forces Magazine: House Bill Pumps Brakes On USAF’s Tanker Plans
Military.com: Biggest Troop Pay Raise in 2 Decades on Track in House Defense Bill
Breaking Defense: Upgraded F-35s Won’t Be Accepted by Pentagon Come July
Breaking Defense: Draft House Defense Policy Bill Would Speed Hypersonic Missile Defense Interceptor
Air & Space Forces Magazine: How the Space Force Will Avoid a ‘Pearl Harbor’ in Space, According to Its No. 2 Officer
Defense One: Pentagon Wants to Demo Space Internet Capabilities This Year
The War Zone: Inside The Air Force’s Biggest Live Air-To-Air Missile Shoot
Air & Space Forces Magazine: NATO’s Biggest Air Exercise Ever Kicks Off, Led by Germany
19fortyfive.com: ‘Melted Armor’: Footage Shows Ukraine Killing Putin’s T-72B Tanks
19fortyfive.com: Joe Biden Has Given Ukraine 200,000,000 ‘Bullets’ to Fight Putin
19fortyfive.com: ‘Cracks are Appearing’: Ukraine’s Offensive Is Making Putin Sweat
The Cipher Brief: Ukraine Enlists Local Drone Makers in War Effort
Forbes: Microsoft’s Big Footprint In China Is Out Of Step With U.S. Security Concerns
Calendar
TUESDAY | JUNE 13
9:30 a.m. G-50 Dirksen — Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the nomination of Gen. Eric Smith to be commandant of the Marine Corps http://www.armed-services.senate.gov
10 a.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee markup of H.R. 2670, the “National Defense Authorization Act for FY2024” https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings
10 a.m. 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE — Heritage Foundation discussion: “Leading and implementing change in a time of turbulence,” with Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger https://www.heritage.org/defense/event/leading-change
10 a.m. — The U.S. Institute of Peace hybrid event: “U.S.-China Crisis Communications in Dire Straits,” with Chad Sbragia, research analyst, Institute for Defense Analyses; Devin Ellis, senior faculty specialist, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences at the University of Maryland; Michael Swaine, senior research fellow, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft; and moderator Carla Freeman, senior expert, China, U.S. Institute of Peace https://www.usip.org/events/us-china-crisis
11 a.m. 2212 Rayburn — House Armed Services Cyber, Information Technology, and Innovation Subcommittee markup of H.R. 2670, the “National Defense Authorization Act for FY2024” https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings
12 p.m. — Joint media availability with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg
12 p.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee markup of H.R. 2670, the “National Defense Authorization Act for FY2024” https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings
1 p.m. 2212 Rayburn — House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee markup of H.R. 2670, the “National Defense Authorization Act for FY2024” https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings
1 p.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies releases: “Ahead of the NATO Summit: Burden Sharing to Responsibility Sharing,” a new CSIS report by Kathleen McInnis and co-author Daniel Fata, CSIS non-resident senior adviser and former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO policy; Max Bergmann, CSIS director, Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program; E.J. Herold, member, The SPECTRUM Group and former NATO deputy assistant secretary general for defense investment; and moderated by Donatienne Ruy, CSIS director of executive education https://www.csis.org/events/ahead-nato-summit-burden-sharing
2 p.m. — Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies virtual discussion: “New START, Nuclear Weapons, and the New Landscape: Arms Control and Deterrence Post-Ukraine,” with Stephen Rosen, national security and military affairs professor at Harvard University; and Dan West, director at SCF Partners https://fedsoc.zoom.us/webinar/register
2:30 p.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee markup of H.R. 2670, the “National Defense Authorization Act for FY2024” https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings
3:30 p.m. 2212 Rayburn — House Armed Services Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee markup of H.R. 2670, the “National Defense Authorization Act for FY2024” https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings
WEDNESDAY | JUNE 14
8 a.m. 2425 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Virginia — Association of the U.S. Army “Hot Topic” forum: “Building the Army of 2030: Maturing the Cyber Domain,” with Lt. Gen. Maria Barrett, commanding general of the Army Cyber Command: former Army Undersecretary Patrick Murphy; and Energy Department CIO Ann Dunkin https://www.ausa.org/events/hot-topics/army-cyber
8:30 a.m. Brussels, Belgium — NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg press conference ahead of two-day meeting of NATO defense ministers https://www.nato.int
9 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. — Center for Strategic and International Studies and the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council U.S.-Indo-Pacific Conference: “The U.S. relationship with ASEAN and the Quad, including the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework,” from June 14-15 https://www.csis.org/events/us-indo-pacific-conference-2023
10 a.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee markup of H.R. 2670, the “National Defense Authorization Act for FY2024” https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings
10 a.m. 2172 Rayburn — House Foreign Affairs Indo-Pacific Subcommittee hearing on “Achieving Peace through Strength in the Indo-Pacific: Examining the FY2024 Budget Priorities,” with testimony from Daniel Kritenbrink, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs; and Clay Epperson, acting deputy assistant administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development Asia Bureau https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing
10 a.m. — Atlantic Council discussion: “NATO membership and security guarantees: Getting Ukraine right at the Vilnius summit,” with Kyllike Sillaste-Elling, Estonian undersecretary for political affairs; and former U.S. Ambassador to Poland Daniel Fried, fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/nato-membership
2 p.m. HVC-210, U.S. Capitol — House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on “Assessing U.S. Efforts to Counter China’s Coercive Belt and Road Diplomacy,” with testimony from Geoffrey Pyatt, assistant secretary of state for energy resources; Arun Venkataraman, assistant commerce secretary for global markets and director general of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service; and Andrew Herscowitz, chief development officer for the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing
THURSDAY | JUNE 15
4 a.m. Brussels, Belgium — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley lead an in-person meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group ahead of NATO Defense Ministerial https://www.defense.gov/News/Live-Events
9 a.m. 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Defense One Tech Summit on how emerging technologies are shaping the military tactics and national-security strategies of tomorrow, with Charles Luftig, deputy director of national intelligence for policy and capabilities; Michael Horowitz, director, DOD Emerging Capabilities Policy Office, Kusti Salm, permanent secretary of the Estonian Ministry of Defense; Maynard Holliday, deputy defense CTO; and Space Force Gen. David Thompson, vice chief of space operations https://d1techsummit.com/
9 a.m. — Business Council for International Understanding off-the-record and closed press discussion: “Australia’s Strategic Defense Review and Australian defense priorities,” with Royal Australian Navy Rear Adm. Ian Murray, Australian defense attache to the United States https://bciu.zohobackstage.com/DEFENSEBreakfast
9 a.m. 616 Rhode Island Ave. NW — Center for Strategic and International Studies and U.S.-ASEAN Business Council U.S.-Indo-Pacific Conference: “The U.S. relationship with ASEAN and the Quad, including the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework” https://www.csis.org/events/us-indo-pacific-conference-2023
9:30 a.m. 215 Dirksen — U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission hearing: “Europe, the United States, and Relations with China: Convergence or Divergence?” https://www.uscc.gov/hearings/europe-united-states-and-relations-china
9:30 a.m. 1030 15th St. NW — Atlantic Council Central and Eastern European Energy Security Conference https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/8th-annual-cee/
2:30 p.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW — Brookings Institution discussion: “Evaluating NATO enlargement since the end of the Cold War,” with Joshua Itzkowitz Shifrinson, associate professor at the University of Maryland; Jim Townsend, adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security’s Transatlantic Security Program; Susan Colbourn, associate director of Duke University’s Program in American Grand Strategy; and Peter Baker, chief White House correspondent at the New York Times https://www.brookings.edu/events/evaluating-nato-enlargement
FRIDAY | JUNE 16
12 p.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual book discussion: By All Means Available: Memoirs of a Life in Intelligence, Special Operations, and Strategy, with author Michael Vickers, former undersecretary of defense for intelligence https://www.csis.org/events/lessons-us-intelligence-and-special-operations
9 a.m. — Atlantic Council virtual discussion: “U.S.-China lessons from Ukraine: Fueling more dangerous Taiwan tensions,” with Andrew Nien-Dzu Yang, secretary general of the Chinese Council of Advanced Policy Studies; retired Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies; and Jane Rickards, Taiwan correspondent at the Economist https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/us-china-lessons
11 a.m. 2101 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Virginia — National Defense Industrial Association closed press meeting of the Logistics Management Division with Leigh Method, deputy assistant defense secretary for logistics [email protected]
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“He flew the boxes up to New Jersey for summer vacation. What is this, like, they’re a family member? I mean, seriously, I’ve got to have my boxes with me. And let me ask you a question. What exactly was he doing with them? Did someone remind him he’s not the president anymore? You don’t need these things anymore. This is vanity run amok … Ego run amok.”
Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie at a CNN Town Hall Monday night, speaking about Donald Trump’s retention of secret government documents.
