Lopsided bipartisan vote eliminates threat of government shutdown and ensures Pentagon funding

The behind-the-scenes horse-trading saw Republicans win the extension of payments to farmers to compensate for low crop prices and Democrats adding coronavirus-related food aid for the poor.

The CR allows the Pentagon to continue defense spending at the current level, but it cannot start any new programs, with one exception of “anomaly,” as it’s called. The bill includes $1.6 billion to buy a pair of next-generation Columbia-class ballistic submarines, which if delayed would drive the cost of the program up.

SPEAKING OF WEAPONS: Defense Secretary Mark Esper met with Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz at the Pentagon on Tuesday and promised the United States would maintain Israel’s qualitative edge in the Middle East, even as it considers new arms sales to the United Arab Emirates.

“The defense relationship between the United States and Israel has never been stronger: We intend to keep it that way,” Esper said at the outset of the meeting. “A cornerstone of our defense relationship is preserving Israel’s qualitative military edge in the region. The United States is committed to that, and the Department of Defense is committed to that imperative,” he said.

In the wake of the diplomatic breakthrough normalizing relations between Israel and the emirates, the U.S. is considering the sale of Lockheed Martin F-35s to the UAE.

Gantz is also alternate prime minister under Israel’s unity government formed in April.

TROOP CUTS COMING: At Tuesday’s House Oversight subcommittee hearing on Afghanistan strategy, the Pentagon said promised U.S. force reductions are on track.

“We’ve long maintained that our force presence in Afghanistan is conditions-based,” said David Helvey, the assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, in his testimony. “This August, the president [decided] that the conditions of Afghanistan were sufficient to reduce our force presence to between 4,000 and 5,000 by the end of November 2020.”

But Helvey said that Esper has not yet signed off on the final withdrawal plan, which would bring all U.S. troops home by May of next year. “We are conducting prudent planning to withdraw to zero service members by May 2021 if conditions warrant, per the U.S.-Taliban agreement,” Helvey said.

The latest reduction comes as Trump tells supporters on the campaign trail that he plans to “keep America out of these ridiculous foreign wars.”

PEACE DEAL QUESTIONED: A press release from the Democratic-controlled subcommittee questioned Helvey’s assertion that the troop cuts were “conditions-based,” noting that both Helvey and Zalmay Khalilzad, the special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, testified that the Taliban were not fully holding up their end of the Feb. 29 withdrawal deal with the U.S.

“The Talibs have taken some steps based on the commitment they have made, positive steps, but they have some distance still to go,” Khalilzad said, while Helvey testified that “so far, they are not fully compliant, so we have work to be done there. I think we know that. The Taliban knows it.”

“Taliban violence, quite frankly, has been unacceptably high for too long,” Helvey said.

“Despite multiple indications that the Taliban have not fully met their commitments under the February agreement, the Trump administration has steadily withdrawn U.S. forces from Afghanistan,” said Democratic subcommittee chairman Rep. Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts. That, he argued, “has ceded much of our leverage to help shape the future of Afghanistan for its people and our national security interests.”

UPROAR OVER COVID-19 FUNDS: The Washington Post reported Tuesday that money appropriated to the Pentagon under the CARES Act to “prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus” was instead repurposed to assist struggling defense contractors and used to make things such as jet engine parts, body armor, and dress uniforms.

The report sparked calls from Democrats for an investigation of how the $1 billion that Congress gave the Pentagon in March was spent. Wisconsin Rep. Mark Pocan and California Rep. Barbara Lee called for a formal review to determine if the use of coronavirus funding for defense industry stimulus was legal.

“Once again, the Pentagon is using taxpayer dollars to line the pockets of defense contractors instead of protecting our troops or the American people,” said Pocan in a statement.

“These taxpayer dollars were appropriated by Congress for the sole purpose of combating this virus,” said Lee. “If these allegations are true, it is simply unacceptable, and those responsible must be held accountable. The culture within this administration of neglecting the needs of the American people in favor of bloated defense spending for endless wars must come to an end.”

Good Wednesday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre’s Daily on Defense, written and compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre) and edited by Tyler Van Dyke. Email here with tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. Sign up or read current and back issues at DailyonDefense.com. If signing up doesn’t work, shoot us an email and we’ll add you to our list. And be sure to follow us on Twitter: @dailyondefense.

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HAPPENING TODAY: Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf testifies at the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on his nomination to be Homeland Security secretary. 342 Dirksen Senate Office Building. 10 a.m.

TRUMP TO UN: WE ARE THE PEACEMAKERS: Citing the recent U.S. brokered-peace deals between Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain and a separate agreement between Serbia and Kosovo, Trump told the United Nations on Tuesday that “America is fulfilling our destiny as peacemaker, but it is peace through strength.”

“We are stronger now than ever before. Our weapons are at an advanced level like we’ve never had before — like, frankly, we’ve never even thought of having before. And I only pray to God that we never have to use them,” Trump told the General Assembly in his prerecorded speech as the U.N. marked its 75th anniversary.

“These groundbreaking peace deals are the dawn of the new Middle East,” Trump said. “We intend to deliver more peace agreements shortly, and I have never been more optimistic for the future of the region. There is no blood in the sand. Those days are, hopefully, over.”

CHINA TO UN: NO, WE ARE THE PEACEMAKERS: In his speech, Chinese President Xi Jinping insisted his country has “no intention” of fighting a new Cold War, saying his country wants to help the world recover from the coronavirus pandemic and has no intention of global dominance.

“We will never seek hegemony, expansion, or sphere of influence,” Xi said. “We have no intention to fight either a Cold War or a hot one with any country. We will continue to narrow differences and resolve disputes with others through dialogue.”

“China will continue to work as a builder of global peace,” the Chinese leader added.

TRUMP TO CHINA: NO, YOU ‘UNLEASHED THIS PLAGUE’: Xi’s speech came after, as promised, Trump singled out China for harsh criticism.

On the same day that the number of coronavirus-related deaths in the U.S. surpassed 200,000, Trump sought to place the blame squarely on China, which he said “unleashed this plague onto the world.”

“The United Nations must hold China accountable for their actions,” Trump said. “In the earliest days of the virus, China locked down travel domestically while allowing flights to leave China and infect the world. China condemned my travel ban on their country, even as they canceled domestic flights and locked citizens in their homes,” he said. “The Chinese government and the World Health Organization, which is virtually controlled by China, falsely declared that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission. Later, they falsely said people without symptoms would not spread the disease.”

SEEING THROUGH XI’S CONCILIATORY TONE: “The seemingly positive tone of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s speech rings hollow in light of increasing international concern about Beijing’s belligerent behavior in the South China Sea and its recent crackdowns in Hong Kong and Xinjiang,” says Craig Singleton, a China expert with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

“Beijing is eager to avoid any accountability following its mishandling of the COVID-19 outbreak,” says Singleton, noting, “This year’s virtual format may work in Beijing’s favor, as world leaders are unable to meet privately to craft a coordinated response to China’s actions.”

“For all of Xi’s talk about the value of multilateralism and diplomacy, China’s belligerent actions speak much louder than its words,” he says. “[Xi’s] speech will do little to assuage those concerns.”

BELARUS WATCH: Russia has deployed a third battalion tactical group from the 217th Airborne Regiment of the Ivanovo-based 98th Guards Airborne Division to Belarus, according to an analysis from the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War.

“Moscow has now deployed a total of three battalion tactical groups from three different Russian airborne divisions to Belarus as part of the Slavic Brotherhood exercises,” the ISW reports. “All three of these regiments have combat experience in Ukraine.”

“The Kremlin will likely continue to frame Slavic Brotherhood exercises as “preplanned” despite evident changes in their timing and scale,” the analysis concludes. “This exercise could prepare forces to operate in Syria, where ISW forecasts that a pro-regime offensive will begin soon. It could also be preparation for operations in Belarus in various contingencies.”

AN EASY ABOUT-FACE: Transgender rights advocates say the Pentagon’s latest directive, which was issued Sept. 4 and limited the service of transgender troops, could easily be reversed by a Biden administration because the current rules already grandfather in troops who were allowed to serve under the Obama administration.

“The new Pentagon regulations don’t change the fact that the transgender ban can be reversed with a few simple steps that restore a policy of full inclusion,” said Aaron Belkin, director of the Palm Center, a gay and transgender rights group. “The military has a model of inclusive policy already in use for the transgender troops who serve today under grandfathered protection, so ending the ban will be just as quick and straightforward.”

The group has released an updated “blueprint” for changing the policy back.

POSTHUMOUS MOH: The House has passed bipartisan legislation to authorize a posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe for valiant actions in 2005.

The bill, introduced by Florida Democrat Stephanie Murphy, makes a technical change to current law requiring that the Medal of Honor be awarded within five years of the actions that are the basis for the award, a requirement that Congress regularly waives.

Murphy, along with Republican Reps. Dan Crenshaw of Texas and Michael Waltz of Florida, wrote to Defense Secretary Esper, asking that he review Cashe’s heroic actions for a possible upgrade from the Silver Star to the Medal of Honor. Esper endorsed the upgrade, pending a congressional waiver.

“Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe saved his men’s lives. He risked his own life as he pulled them out of a flaming Bradley Fighting Vehicle and went back — again and again,” said Crenshaw, a former Navy SEAL who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. “He is deserving of the Medal of Honor, our nation’s highest military award for bravery on the battlefield, and I’m proud to work with my colleagues to make sure that happens.”

EXCUSE ME. YOUR SLIP IS SHOWING: These days, it’s fashionable to jump on every little slip of the tongue as evidence of cognitive decline. It’s particularly the case now, with two septuagenarians battling for the White House.

At a rally in Dayton, Ohio, on Monday night, Trump mocked challenger Joe Biden, alleging he often takes the stage with no idea where he is. “Like if he’s in Ohio, ‘It’s great to be in the state of Florida.’ Then, he looks around, and he doesn’t see too many palm trees,” he said.

Biden has misspoken several times lately, recently confusing Iran and Iraq, and on another occasion saying 200 million Americans have died from COVID-19, when the number is 200,000.

But Trump, too, has had some verbal lapses, such as when during this month’s ABC town hall, he claimed that “herd mentality,” when he clearly meant “herd immunity,” would help vanquish the coronavirus.

And in the same Dayton speech during which he mocked Biden, Trump made another verbal slip-up of his own, describing a new “super-duper” missile as “hydrosonic” instead of “hypersonic.” Unless he knows about a new underwater missile we are unaware of.

As an openly practicing sexagenarian, more often than I’d like to admit I’ve made similar slip-ups — saying Iran when I meant Iraq or writing millions when I meant billions. (You can’t buy much defense with a $700 million budget, just sayin’.) It could be I’ve lost a step in my approaching dotage, but it’s not a sign of creeping dementia. At least, I hope not.

“To err is human, to forgive divine,” but in today’s snarky social media ecosystem, no one seems inclined to admit to the former or do the latter. Not a sermon, just a thought.

The Rundown

Washington Examiner: South Korean president calls for official end to Korean War ‘completely and for good’

Washington Examiner: Erdogan breaks with Trump over Israel deals and Iran

Washington Examiner: Hassan Rouhani compares ‘kneeling’ on George Floyd’s neck to US treatment of Iran in UN speech

Washington Examiner: Pompeo predicts ‘excellent cooperation’ from Europe to enforce Iran arms embargo

Washington Post: U.S. scrambles to do nuclear deal with Russia before election, issuing ultimatum

Washington Examiner: Edward Snowden agrees to pay US government $5M from book profits and speeches

Defense One: The U.S. Military’s Latest Wearables Can Detect Illness Two Days Before You Get Sick

AP: Alexei Navalny released from German hospital after 32 days

Washington Examiner: Philippine president rebukes China while emphasizing fear of ‘nuclear war’

Washington Post: Tycoon who denounced China’s leader over coronavirus is sentenced to 18 years in prison

New York Times: Facebook Finds Election-Interference Pages Made In China

Breaking Defense: Marine Corps’ Builds New Littoral Regiment, Eye On Fake Chinese Islands

Defense News: California Marine Unit Set To Receive First Amphibious Combat Vehicle

New York Times: C.I.A. Says Putin Directs Russian Steps To Aid Trump

New York Times: He Killed 2 Marines in 2011. It Almost Derailed Peace Talks This Month.

Washington Post: British court clears way for prosecution of ISIS ‘Beatles’ in United States

AP: President of Belarus inaugurated despite disputed election

Washington Examiner: Fire on Coast Guard cutter Waesche leaves five with minor injuries

Air Force Magazine: Brown Talks Force Structure, NGAD Records, and the Looming CR

Air Force Magazine: US Looks to Compete—and Collaborate—in Space

Bloomberg: U.S. Army Grounds Upgraded Boeing Copters on Inspection Doubts

Politico: How Robert O’Brien Helped Steer The Pentagon Toward A Bigger Navy

Defense News: The Hapless Attack Sub Boise Could Return To The Fleet In 2023 After 8 Years Sidelined

Military Times: Automatic Citizenship Has Been Restored For Some Troops’ Children Born Abroad

Forbes: Raytheon Presses Case For Replacing Lockheed Martin Radar In Missile Defense Of Japan

The Drive: Here’s Why The Destroyer USS Kidd Was Flying A Huge Pirate Flag As It Pulled Into Port

Calendar

WEDNESDAY | SEPTEMBER 23

9 a.m. — Emerald X LLC Modern Day Marine virtual event: “The Force America Needs,” with Marine Corps commandant Gen. David Berger. https://event.webcasts.com

9 a.m. — Hudson Institute webinar: “U.S. Relations with China, Latin America and Iran,” with Acting Intelligence Chairman Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.; and Walter Russell Mead, fellow in strategy and statesmanship at Hudson. https://www.hudson.org/events/1858-video-event

9 a.m. — The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies China-Africa Research Initiative conference: “ Strategic Interests, Security Implications: China, Africa, and the Rest,” through Oct. 2. https://jh.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0iv50I9bRlClHubcE8H8JA

POSTPONED: 9:15 a.m. SD-562, Dirksen — Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support hearing on “Navy and Marine Corps Readiness,” with Navy Secretary Kenneth Braithwaite, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday, and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger. https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings

10 a.m. 342 Dirksen — Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on the nomination of Chad Wolf to be Homeland Security secretary. http://www.hsgac.senate.gov

10 a.m. — House Veterans’ Affairs Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee hearing on “Toxic Exposures: Examining Airborne Hazards in the Southwest Asia Theater of Military Operations.” http://veterans.house.gov

10 a.m. — National Defense Industrial Association virtual Undersea Warfare Conference, with Capt. David Kuhn, program manager at the Navy Undersea Communications and Integration Program Office. https://www.ndia.org/events

12 p.m. — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivers remarks to legislative, business, and military leaders in the Wisconsin state Senate Chamber. Livestream at https://www.state.gov/

12 p.m. — House Armed Services Committee hearing on “The Role of Allies and Partners in U.S. Military Strategy and Operations,” with Christine Wormuth, director of the RAND Corporation’s International Security and Defense Policy Center; retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges of the Center for European Policy Analysis and former commanding general of U.S. Army Europe ; and Elbridge Colby, principal and co-founder of the Marathon Initiative. https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings

12 p.m. — New America webinar: “What Science and Technology Owe the National Defense,” with retired Marine Lt. Gen. Robert Schmidle, adviser on cyber capabilities and conflict studies at Arizona State University and former U.S. Cyber Command deputy commander; Margaret O’Mara, professor of history at the University of Washington; and Andres Martinez, editorial director of New America’s Future Tense. t https://www.newamerica.org/future-tense/events

12:30 p.m. — New America and Arizona State University virtual Future Security Forum session on “U.S.-China Relations Post COVID-19: Is Conflict Inevitable?” https://www.newamerica.org/international-security/events

1 p.m. — Center for Security Policy webcast: “Why China is the Most Important National Security Issue in the 2020 Election,” with Jeff Nyquist, expert on Russian and Communist military and foreign policy; retired Army Capt. Sam Faddis, a retired CIA operations officer; and moderator Frank Gaffney, chairman of the Center for Security Policy. https://register.gotowebinar.com/register

1 p.m. — Government Executive Media Group webcast: “New Orbit: Space and an All-Domain Future,” with Mark Lewis, acting deputy defense undersecretary for research and engineering; Eliahu Niewood, vice president for intelligence programs and cross-cutting capabilities at MITRE; Jim Light, senior director for space strategy in the SAIC National Security Group; and Daniela Fayer, publisher of Defense One. https://www.defenseone.com/feature/new-orbit

3 p.m. — Washington Post Live webinar conversation about “The Comey Rule,” an upcoming television miniseries based on the book A Higher Loyalty by former FBI director James Comey, which stars actor Jeff Daniels as Comey, with Comey, Daniels, and director Billy Ray. https://thecomeyrule.splashthat.com

THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 24

9 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies webcast: “The U.S.-ROK alliance, U.S. policy toward North Korea, COVID-19 challenges and much more,” with Rep. Ami Bera, D-Calif. https://www.csis.org/events/online-event

9:30 a.m. — Woodrow Wilson Center’s Africa Programconference call briefing: “U.S. Interests and Engagement in the Sahel: Current State, Key Issues, and the Way Ahead,” with State Department Special Envoy for the Sahel Region of Africa J. Peter Pham. https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event

9:30 a.m. — Atlantic Council webinar: “Security at the Maritime Edge,” with Transportation Maritime Administrator Rear Adm. Mark Buzby. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event

10 a.m. — Defense Secretary Mark Esper, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley, and the Chairman’s Senior Enlisted Advisor Ramón “CZ” Colón-López hold a virtual global town hall meeting at the Pentagon to answer questions from service members, their families and DOD civilians. Livestreamed on Defense.gov, DVIDS and the DOD Facebook page.

10 a.m. 342 Dirksen — Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on “Threats to the Homeland.” http://www.hsgac.senate.gov

10 a.m. 2172 Rayburn — House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on “Oversight of the United States Agency for Global Media and U.S. International Broadcasting Efforts,” with Michael Pack, CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media. http://foreignaffairs.house.gov

11 a.m. — Government Executive Media Group webcast: “State of the Marines,” with Marine Corps commandant Gen. David Berger, and Rep. Mike Gallagher. https://www.defenseone.com/feature/state-of-defense

12 p.m. — Atlantic Council webcast: “UNGA 75: Reaffirming the World’s Commitment to Venezuela,” with Juan Guaidó, Interim President of Venezuela; Carrie Filipetti, deputy assistant secretary of state, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs; Julio Borges, special envoy for foreign affairs, Interim Government of Venezuela; James Dauris, U.K. Foreign and Commonwealth Office; John Barsa, acting administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development, and Cristina Gallach, secretary of state for foreign affairs, Spain. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/unga-75

12:30 p.m. — Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies webinar: “The New World Disorder: The Power Struggle Between China, the U.S. and Europe,” with former Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb. https://sais.jhu.edu/campus-events

2 p.m. — Government Executive Media Group webcast: “ The Air Force Reskilling Revolution,” with Lt. Col. Paul Cooper, chief of the Air Force Business and Enterprise Systems Product Innovation Solutions Center; Sam Pena, vice president for North America presales at Pluralsight; and Daniela Fayer, vice president of strategic accounts at Defense One. https://www.govexec.com/feature

8 p.m. — Asia Society webinar on Korea’s response to COVID-19, with Republic of Korea Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha. https://asiasociety.org/new-york/events/webcast

FRIDAY | SEPTEMBER 25

9 a.m. — U.S. Institute of Peace webinar: “The Fallout of the War in Syria: Understanding the Conflict’s Regional Consequences,” Saroj Kumar Jha, regional director of the World Bank’s Mashreq1 Department; Harun Onder, senior economist at the World Bank; Randa Slim, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute; Natasha Hall, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies; and Mona Yacoubian, senior adviser for Syria, Middle East and North Africa at USIP. https://www.usip.org/events/fallout-war-syria

10 a.m. — Brookings Institution webinar: “The Future of Defense Task Force’s Final Report: Reviewing the Nation’s Defense Assets and Capabilities,” with Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass.; Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind.; and Michael O’Hanlon, Brookings senior fellow. https://www.brookings.edu/events

10 a.m. — “Hack at the Harbor” virtual security conference sponsored by Point3 Security, with speakers including Chris Krebs, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Department of Homeland Security. https://hackattheharbor.com/

11:30 a.m. — Approximately 70 World War II aircraft will fly over the Washington Mall in two-minute intervals in historically sequenced warbird formations representing the major World War II battles. More than 20 different types of vintage military aircraft are scheduled to take part, including the P-40 Warhawk, P-39 Airacobra, P-38 Lightning, P-51 Mustang, P-47 Thunderbolt, F4U Corsair, B-25 Mitchell, B-17 Flying Fortress, B-29 Superfortress. https://ww2flyover.org/

2 p.m. — Brookings Institution webinar: “The Policy Needs of America’s Veterans,” with House Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano, D-Calif.; retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Linnington, CEO of the Wounded Warrior Project; Jen Silvan, chief program officer at the Wounded Warrior Project; and Michael O’Hanlon, Brookings senior fellow. https://www.brookings.edu/events

MONDAY | SEPTEMBER 28

2:30 p.m. — Center for the National Interest webinar: “North Korean Military Modernization: How Should Washington Respond?” with Bruce Bennett, defense researcher at the RAND Corporation; Gordon Chang, author of Nuclear Showdown: North Korea Takes on the World; James Holmes, chair of Maritime Strategy at the Naval War College; and Harry Kazianis, senior director of Korean studies at the Center for the National Interest.

WEDNESDAY | SEPTEMBER 30

4 p.m. — Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library conversation with Matt Pottinger, assistant to the president and deputy national security adviser. https://www.reaganfoundation.org

THURSDAY | OCTOBER 1

9:15 a.m. SD-562, Dirksen — Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support hearing on “Supply Chain Integrity,” with Ellen Lord, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment. https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings