| WARREN: 'ISN'T DEMOCRACY, IT'S EXTORTION': Sen. Tommy Tuberville's (R-AL) hold on 184 promotions for senior military officers is beginning to create a real problem for the Pentagon, and Democrats are calling for the Alabama Republican to use other means to oppose a Defense Department policy that facilitates travel for service members seeking legal abortions. "One senator is personally standing in the way of promotions for more than 184 of our top-level military leaders, holding up pay raises for men and women in uniform, blocking key senior military leaders from taking their posts, and jeopardizing America's national security," said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in an impassioned speech on the Senate floor. "If he wants to press for votes to reverse DOD's health care policies, he can do that. I will oppose him, but if I lose, and Congress changes the law, then DOD will change its policies. That's how democracy works," Warren said. "Holding up the promotions of every single military nominee isn't democracy; it's extortion, and that kind of extortion has serious consequences for our national defense." CHUCK SCHUMER CALLS TUBERVILLE'S BLOCKING OF PENTAGON APPOINTMENTS 'OUTRAGEOUS' TUBERVILLE: 'I WARNED AUSTIN': Tuberville and other Republicans argue Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's policy that gives female troops paid time off and reimburses travel expenses to seek reproductive care, including abortions, is a violation of the Hyde Amendment, the federal law that prohibits federal funding of abortions, except in the cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother. "I warned Austin and his department that I would hold nominees from Senate confirmation if the Biden administration tried to force abortion on demand on our military. They did it anyway. They knew what the consequences would be. This was their choice," Tuberville wrote in an op-ed for the Heritage Foundation's Daily Signal last month. "Despite efforts to pressure me to drop my hold, I will continue to block these nominees until the Department of Defense follows the law — or Congress changes the law," Tuberville vowed. "If these nominees are so important to the Democrats, then the Democratic Leader can find time to get them on the Senate floor." Bringing each of the individual promotions to the floor for a vote would be a laborious, dayslong process, with numerous opportunities for senators to delay or derail the process. "These promotions are processed in big batches rather than one at a time, and they usually happen without even taking a recorded vote," said Warren. "Occasionally, a senator may object to an individual nomination, usually to indicate opposition to that appointment or to insist on answers to questions from a federal agency. I have done this in the past, as have many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. The senator from Alabama isn't doing that. Instead, he's blocking every single top military leader from advancing, indefinitely." REED: TOP OFFICERS ARE 'POLITICAL HOSTAGES': Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), chairman of the Armed Services Committee, has accused Tuberville of mounting a "profound assault" on the professionalism of the U.S. military and of turning top military leaders into "political hostages." Reed has taken to questioning every senior military officer who appears before the committee about the impact of not being able to promote three-and-four star officers and fill the top jobs in the military command structure. "The effects are absolutely critical in terms of the impact on the force. This is one of the busiest times or one of the most complex times that we've seen lately. We see a war the largest conflict in Europe since World War II," Austin told Reed last month. "Not approving the recommendation for promotions actually creates a ripple effect through the force that makes us far less ready than we need to be." Austin insists his travel policy "is based on sound legal basis" and is grounded by a legal opinion from the Justice Department, which concludes the law applies only to funds used to "perform abortions" and which notes the "plain text" of the law "does not prohibit the use of funds to pay expenses, such as a per diem or travel expenses, that are incidental to the abortion." BIDEN PICKS ARMY VICE CHIEF OF STAFF GEN. RANDY GEORGE TO LEAD SERVICE 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 Conrad Hoyt. 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. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP OR READ BACK ISSUES OF DAILY ON DEFENSE Subscribe today to the Washington Examiner magazine and get Washington Briefing: politics and policy stories that will keep you up to date with what's going on in Washington. SUBSCRIBE NOW: Just $1.00 an issue! HAPPENING TODAY: President Joe Biden meets with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at the White House today, and the two leaders have a Rose Garden news conference scheduled for 12:30 p.m. "The visit will underscore the ironclad alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea, one that has grown far beyond the Korean Peninsula, and is now a force for good in the Indo-Pacific and around the world," said the White House in a statement. "The leaders will discuss a shared vision of a strong and deeply integrated U.S.-ROK Alliance that maintains peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond." ISIS LEADER KILLED: The Pentagon isn't giving us his name. No one will say when exactly he was killed, but U.S. officials are citing intelligence confirmed "with high confidence" that the ISIS-K leader believed to have plotted the 2021 suicide bombing at the Kabul airport that killed 13 U.S. troops was himself killed in a recent battle between Taliban and ISIS fighters. Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder issued a statement last night saying the "Department of Defense can confirm that the senior ISIS-Khorasan plotter responsible for planning the August 26, 2021 attack on Abbey Gate … was killed in Afghanistan by the Taliban in early April." "The United States was not involved in this operation," Ryder said. "Over the weekend, the U.S. military began to inform the parents of the 11 Marines, the sailor, and the soldier who were killed in the blast at Abbey Gate," according to the Associated Press. The father of one of the Marines said the death of the alleged plotter brings little comfort. "Whatever happens, it's not going to bring Taylor back and I understand that," Darin Hoover, the father of Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover, said in a phone call with the Associated Press. "About the only thing his mom and I can do now is be an advocate for him. All we want is the truth. And we're not getting it. That's the frustrating part." McCAUL: 'A GOOD DAY, BUT': Michael McCaul (R-TX), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is running out of patience with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and has issued another demand that Blinken declassify and make public the State Department's after-action review of the Afghanistan withdrawal. "Any time a terrorist is taken off the board is a good day," McCaul said in reaction to the reported death of the ISIS-K leader. "But this doesn't diminish the Biden administration's culpability for the failures that led to the attack at Abbey Gate, and will in no way deter the committee's investigation." "Despite having been completed for over a year, this document has yet to be shared with the American people," McCaul wrote in a letter to Blinken. "Information within the After-Action Review directly contradicts the White House's recent written and oral public statements." "The Biden Administration's 12-page unclassified document claiming to summarize the findings of the Administration's after-action reviews and Admiral Kirby's April 6 press briefing both blamed the failures of the withdrawal almost entirely on the Trump Administration, despite the fact that the decision to proceed with an unconditional withdrawal on April 14, 2021, was made by President Biden and control of the withdrawal's timeline, planning, and execution rested with the Biden Administration," McCaul said. MICHAEL MCCAUL CALLS ON STATE DEPARTMENT TO RELEASE REPORT ON AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL ALLIES AIRLIFT THEIR CITIZENS FROM SUDAN: While the U.S. is considering sending U.S. troops to Port Sudan on the Red Sea to assist American citizens and dual nationals to escape the internecine war between factions of Sudan's military, U.S. allies have successfully evacuated hundreds of their citizens by military aircraft from an airfield in the capital Khartoum. Evacuation from Port Sudan by ship requires Americans to travel 500 miles over a dangerous overland route because the Biden administration said evacuation flights out of the capital are too risky. Meanwhile, the British Foreign Office has told the BBC that, so far, between 230 and 240 people were being evacuated but that some U.K. nationals had to dodge snipers to get to the airstrip near Khartoum. Germany was able to evacuate more than 300 people on Luftwaffe flights, according to German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, adding that some Americans made the German flights along with citizens from the U.K., Belgium, the Netherlands, and Jordan. France says it was able to evacuate 500 people, including a dozen Americans. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The Rundown Washington Examiner: Biden turns on charm offensive with South Korean president after Pentagon leaks Washington Examiner: ISIS leader behind deaths of 13 US service members in Kabul is killed by Taliban Washington Examiner: US aid to Ukraine may be contingent on success of upcoming counteroffensive Washington Examiner: Russia 'must be ready to use' nuclear weapons and balks at arms control talks with US Washington Examiner: Michael McCaul calls on State Department to release report on Afghanistan withdrawal Washington Examiner: Chuck Schumer calls Tuberville's blocking of Pentagon appointments 'outrageous' Washington Examiner: Biden picks Army vice chief of staff Gen. Randy George to lead service Washington Examiner: Haines says intelligence community shouldn't overreact following major leaks Washington Examiner: GOP senators urge Biden to sanction Chinese firm Huawei Cloud Washington Examiner: Who owns America: Why Chinese land purchases near US bases have national security experts concerned Washington Examiner: Opinion: A critical debate on the Ukraine-Taiwan weapons trade-off New York Times: Violence in Sudan Cuts Through Shaky U.S.-Brokered Cease-Fire AP: Belarusians wary of being drawn into war with Ukraine AP: Russia convicts ex-police officer over Ukraine war criticism New York Times: The Russian Foreign Minister Hints Of A Possible Prisoner Swap For Gershkovich. Reuters: Taiwan War Games To Focus On Piercing Blockade, Preserving Forces USNI News: Chinese Aircraft Carrier Shandong Back in South China Sea Bloomberg: Pentagon Draws Lessons From Ukraine War As It Eyes Possible Conflict With China Washington Post: U.S. Is Concerned About Russia And China's Space Threats, Documents Show Politico: Congress to Pentagon: Don't Go Too Far in Locking Down Classified Info Breaking Defense: Sweden's NATO Membership Hangs In The Balance With Turkey's Election USNI News: SASC Chair Reed Defends Pentagon's 'Difficult Decisions' to Decommission Legacy Warships Task & Purpose: USS Lewis B. Puller, Named For Chesty Puller, Headed To Sudan's Coast The War Zone: Turkey's First Homegrown Manned Tactical Jet Has Flown Defense One: Special Operations Seeks 20 Percent R&D Budget Bump Air & Space Forces Magazine: Pentagon Needs to Do Better Job of Tracking Wargames, Report Finds Air & Space Forces Magazine: New 'Power Projection Wing' to Replace A-10s at Davis-Monthan Air & Space Forces Magazine: USAFE Moves Air Guard and Reserve Tanker Mission to Poland Air & Space Forces Magazine: LRSO Stealth Nuclear Missile On Track for Production Decision in 2027 Military.com: 'They're Not Able to Cover Their Rent': Housing Top Concern as Congressional Panel on Military Life Starts Work 19fortyfive.com: Opinion: Forget The Critics: The F-35 Is NOT Too Expensive Forbes: Opinion: Five Reasons The Missile Defense Agency Should Be Merged Into The Space Force Calendar WEDNESDAY | APRIL 26 9:30 a.m. G50 Dirksen — Senate Armed Services Committee hearing: "Department of Energy and National Nuclear Security Administration Atomic Energy Defense Activities," with testimony from Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm; and Jill Hruby, administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings 10 a.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Committee hearing: "Department of the Navy FY2024 Budget Request," with testimony from Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro; Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday; Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger http://www.armedservices.house.gov 10 a.m. — SETA Foundation at Washington D.C. virtual discussion: "Turkiye-Iran Relations and the Regional Dynamics," with Hakki Uygur, president of the Center for Iranian Studies; Alex Vatanka, founding director of the Middle East Institute's Iran Program; and Kdir Ustun, executive director of SETA https://tinyurl.com/mrxks9v7 10 a.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Hudson Institute forum: "A New Architecture for Northern Eurasia: The Sixth Free Nations of Post-Russia Forum," with a debate on "Free Russia vs. Post-Russian Independent States: After Putin or After" https://www.hudson.org/events/new-architecture-northern-eurasia 10:30 a.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Committee hearing: "U.S. Military Posture and National Security Challenges in Europe," with testimony from Celeste Wallander, assistant defense secretary for international security affairs; and Gen. Christopher Cavoli, commander, U.S. European Command https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings 2 p.m. 2212 Rayburn — House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee hearing: "FY2024 National Security Space Programs," with testimony from John Plumb, assistant defense secretary for space policy; Frank Calvelli, assistant Air Force secretary for space acquisitions and integration; Christopher Scolese, director of the National Reconnaissance Office; and Navy Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth, director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings 2:30 p.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee hearing: "FY2024 Army Modernization Programs," with testimony from Douglas Bush, assistant Army secretary for acquisition, logistics, and technology; Gen. James Rainey, commanding general of the Army Futures Command; and Lt. Gen. Erik Peterson, deputy chief of staff (G-8) of the Army https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings/tal 2:30 p.m. 232A Russell — Senate Armed Services Committee hearing: "Air Force Modernization in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2024," with testimony from Lt. Gen. Richard Moore, deputy Air Force chief of staff for plans and programs; Lt. Gen. S. Clinton Hinote, deputy Air Force chief of staff for strategy, integration, and requirements; Lt. Gen. James Slife, deputy Air Force chief of staff for operations; and Andrew Hunter, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings 3 p.m. 222 Russell — Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee hearing: "Public Integrity and Anti-corruption Laws at the Defense Department," with testimony from retired Army Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, former special assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Danielle Brian, executive director and president of the Project On Government Oversight; Peter Beshar, Air Force general counsel; John Coffey, Navy general counsel; Carrie Ricci, Army general counsel; and Caroline Krass, DOD general counsel https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings 4 p.m. 4131 Campus Dr., College Park, Md. — University of Maryland Physics Department discussion: "The Future of Nuclear Deterrence and Arms Control," with former White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director John Holdren; Richard Garwin, fellow emeritus at the Thomas J. Watson Research Center; Frank von Hippel, senior research physicist at Princeton University; and Roald Sagdeev, former director of the USSR space agency IKI https://umdphysics.umd.edu/events THURSDAY | APRIL 27 7 a.m. 7920 Jones Branch Dr., McLean, Va. — Potomac Officers Club 2023 Industrial Space Defense Summit, with Assistant Air Force Secretary for Space Acquisition and Integration Frank Calvelli; Vice Adm. Jon Hill, director of the Missile Defense Agency; and Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary for Space and Missile Defense John Hill https://potomacofficersclub.com/events/poc-2023 10 a.m. — German Marshall Fund of the U.S. virtual discussion: "The Elections in Turkey and Poland: How Domestic Corruption Undermines Democracy," with Cassandra Emmons, democracy data analyst at the International Foundation for Electoral Systems; Lisel Hintz, assistant professor of European and Eurasian studies at the Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies; and Josh Rudolph, senior fellow for malign finance at the GMFUS Alliance for Securing Democracy https://www.gmfus.org/event/elections-turkey-and-poland 12 p.m. — Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments report release webinar: "Air Power Metamorphosis: Rethinking Air Force Combat Force Modernization," with author Chris Bowie, CSBA non-resident senior fellow; Thomas Mahnken, CSBA president and CEO; and moderated by air power analyst Jeremiah Gertler https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register 12:30 p.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Committee hearing: "Department of the Air Force FY2024 Budget Request," with testimony from Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall; Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown; and Space Force Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings 1 p.m. 2020 Rayburn — Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe hearing: "Church, State, and Russia's War on Ukraine," with Epiphanius I, metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine; Most Rev. Yevstratiy Zoria, metropolitan of Bila Tserkva; Most Rev. Borys Gudziak, archbishop of Philadelphia of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church; Rev. Dr. Igor Bandura, vice president of international affairs at the Baptist Union of Ukraine https://www.youtube.com/watch 3:20 p.m. — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin welcomes South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to the Pentagon FRIDAY | APRIL 28 10 a.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Committee hearing: "Department of the Navy FY2024 Budget Request," with testimony from Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro; Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday; Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings 4 p.m. 2212 Rayburn — House Armed Services Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee hearing: "A Review of the Defense Intelligence Enterprise's Posture and Capabilities in Strategic Competition and in Synchronizing Intelligence Efforts to Counter the People's Republic Of China," with testimony from Ronald Moultrie, undersecretary of defense for intelligence and security; Gen. Paul Nakasone, commander, U.S. Cyber Command and director, National Security Agency; and Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier, director, Defense Intelligence Agency https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings/iso | | | "Any time a terrorist is taken off the board is a good day, but this doesn't diminish the Biden administration's culpability for the failures that led to the attack at Abbey Gate, and will in no way deter the committee's investigation."
| Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, on the reported death of the ISIS-K leader alleged to have plotted the 2021 suicide attack in Kabul that killed 13 U.S. troops and 170 Afghan civilians.
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