| | | | | |  | | By Bryan Bender | Presented by Northrop Grumman | With Connor O'Brien Editor's Note: Morning Defense is a free version of POLITICO Pro Defense's morning newsletter, which is delivered to our subscribers each morning at 6 a.m. The POLITICO Pro platform combines the news you need with tools you can use to take action on the day's biggest stories. Act on the news with POLITICO Pro. | | | — EXCLUSIVE: A bipartisan coalition of former defense secretaries and diplomats is calling on President-elect Joe Biden to swiftly rejoin the Iran nuclear deal. — President Donald Trump again threatens to veto the defense bill claiming it is weak on China and sets up an override vote. — Defense CEOs appeal to Congress to extend the coronavirus relief program that has helped pay employees sidelined during the pandemic. HAPPY MONDAY AND WELCOME TO MORNING DEFENSE, where we commemorate the peaceful end of the war between Michigan and Ohio in 1836. Yes, we too were surprised to learn they deployed militias over a disputed 468-square-mile border region known as the Toledo Strip. A few shots were fired in The Toledo War but thankfully there were no casualties. Ultimately, Michigan relented in return for statehood and three-quarters of the Upper Peninsula, which at first seemed a raw deal because it was still Indian territory. But the discovery of copper and iron and its plentiful lumber kept the peace. It all gives the Michigan-Ohio football rivalry a different ring to it. We're always on the lookout for tips, pitches and feedback. Email us at bbender@politico.com, and follow on Twitter @bryandbender, @morningdefense and @politicopro. | | | | A message from Northrop Grumman: Nothing is more important than protecting our nation against long range missile attack. Our NGI team has a deep understanding of this critical mission and possesses the history and the expertise to field a system to protect against existing threats and address new, emerging challenges. Learn More | | | | | | 'GIVE ME A BREAK': Trump on Sunday again threatened to veto the National Defense Authorization Act, which has passed the House and Senate with veto-proof majorities — but this time for a new reason. "THE BIGGEST WINNER OF OUR NEW DEFENSE BILL IS CHINA!," he tweeted in all caps. "I WILL VETO!" Trump's latest threat came less than 24 hours after Senate Armed Services Chair Jim Inhofe touted the defense bill as tough on China via Twitter. The top Democrat on the committee , Jack Reed, shot back: "President Trump clearly hasn't read the bill, nor does he understand what's in it," he said in a statement. "There are several bipartisan provisions in here that get tougher on China than the Trump Administration has ever been." Reed then took note of the president's changing reasons for vetoing. "First he threatened the bill because of the Confederate base language. Then it was the unrelated Section 230 liability provision for social media companies. Now it's China. Give me a break. This President can't shoot straight. Our troops and the American people deserve better." Veto showdown coming: The Senate followed the House and overwhelmingly passed the NDAA on Friday. The 84-13 vote is well beyond the two-thirds majority required to override Trump's veto. The bill next heads to Trump's desk. Many lawmakers hope blowout votes in the House and Senate would convince the president to change course. But Trump doesn't appear to be backing down. Congressional leaders are confident they'll have the votes to enact the bill over a presidential veto, but it's unclear how many Republicans who voted to pass the bill will side with Trump on an override. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, for example, has said he won't support overriding a veto. Related: Trump ally Nunes seeks to derail key bill funding intelligence community, via Foreign Policy. | 
Kevin Dietsch/Pool via Getty Images | | | | The Air Force Association holds its Doolittle Leadership Center Virtual Forum featuring Will Roper, the Air Force's acquisition chief, Gen. Arnold Bunch, head of Air Force Materiel Command, and other top brass, starting at 2 p.m. The Center for Strategic and International Studies holds a discussion on " Civics as a National Security Imperative: A Conversation with Senior Military Officers" with retired Gens. Carter Ham and Lori Robinson and retired Adm. William McRaven at 4 p.m. | | | On Tuesday, the Wilson Center holds a discussion on Afghanistan featuring veterans' perspectives of the conflict at 1:30 p.m. And the Institute for Policy Studies holds an online discussion on defense budget cuts titled "How much is 10 percent" at 7 p.m. On Wednesday, TechCrunch kicks off its two-day Space 2020 featuring investors, founders and technologists, including Roper and Chief of Space Operations Gen. John Raymond. On Friday, Ellen Lord, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, will testify before the Congressional Oversight Commission on the National Security Loan Program established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act at 2 p.m. | | | 'LOOKING VERY, VERY BAD': Russian government hackers breached a number of U.S. government agencies, including all branches of the military, in what appears to have been a long running and significant espionage operation, The Washington Post reported on Sunday. The breach was of a network management system called Solar Winds, which is used by more than 300,000 organizations across the world. "This is looking very, very bad," said one person quoted by the paper. The Russian hackers, known by the nicknames APT29 or Cozy Bear, are part of Russian's foreign intelligence service, according to the report. Among the targets were all five branches of the U.S. military, the Pentagon, State Department, Justice Department, NASA, the Executive Office of the President and the National Security Agency, the report added. | | | |   | | | | | | 'DERELICT IN HIS DUTY': Calls for Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie to resign grew over the weekend after an internal investigation found he tried to discredit a veteran who accused a coworker of sexual assault, POLITICO's Evan Semones reports. "Secretary Wilkie has not only been derelict in his duty to combat sexual harassment, but he has been complicit in the continuation of a VA culture that tolerates this epidemic," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement on Saturday, joining other lawmakers who called for Wilkie to step aside. "He has lost the trust and confidence to serve, and he must immediately resign. The VA inspector general concluded that Wilkie and senior VA officials ignored problems at the facility and "engaged in confrontational messaging" to discredit the veteran and characterize her allegations as "unsubstantiated." | | | 'THE WRONG PICK FOR THE WRONG TIME': The next likely VA secretary isn't going over all that well either. Biden's selection last week of Denis McDonough, a former top aide to President Barack Obama, to run the VA has angered some leaders in the veterans community. "We were hoping for a post-9/11 veteran," Paul Rieckhoff, founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, told MSNBC on Friday. "We didn't even get a veteran." McDonough, for his part, insisted on Friday that Biden has given him clear orders: "to fight like hell for our veterans." FIRST LOOK — 'Reduce the risk of war': A coalition of 50 retired generals, former secretaries of defense, diplomats, and lawmakers from across the spectrum are urging Biden in an open letter to swiftly rejoin the Iran nuclear deal when he takes office in January. They argue that the 2018 withdrawal from the multinational Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and restoration of sanctions "permitted a previously-compliant Iran to exceed JCPOA limits on enrichment and prohibited R&D work on centrifuges." "The immediate U.S. commitment to rejoin the JCPOA will require Iran to return to full compliance, prevent it from a nuclear weapon, and reduce the risk of war," they added. "With the JCPOA reinvigorated by Iran and the U.S., the hard work can begin on regional arms limitations and provide a foundation from which to resolve regional differences and explore regional cooperation." And by rejoining, they contend, the U.S. "will be better positioned to ensure in follow-on negotiations that Iran will be prevented from a nuclear weapon." The open letter, which was organized by the National Coalition to Prevent an Iranian Nuclear Weapon, was signed by former defense secretaries Chuck Hagel and William Perry, as well as a host of other national security leaders who served under presidents in both parties. Related: The conservative Heritage Foundation will host a noontime discussion on Tuesday titled "Deal or No Deal: The Iran Nuclear Challenge" about what to expect if the U.S. rejoins the pact. | | | | A message from Northrop Grumman: If our nation doesn't have effective missile defense capabilities, our nation is at risk. Our NGI team combines unmatched expertise in missile defense and advanced weapon systems integration with innovative technologies, agile processes, model-based systems engineering, and facilities to ensure an affordable, low-risk solution that meets the customer's schedule and ensures mission success. Learn More | | | | | | 'A LITTLE BIT OF A PANIC': Fifteen defense industry CEOs sent a letter to congressional leaders on Friday asking them to extend for a third time a pandemic relief program set to expire Dec. 18., our colleague Jacqueline Feldscher reports. Section 3610 of the CARES Act allows the government to reimburse federal contractors to keep employees on the payroll even if they can't access the federal facilities required to do their jobs. "This has been particularly crucial to many small businesses who cannot afford to keep their employees afloat when unable to access federal facilities," the CEOs wrote. "Extending these authorities, which are used by many federal agencies to maintain the capabilities and workforce necessary to meet mission needs and protect our national security and other vital programs, does not require any additional appropriation of funds." There's "a little bit of a panic" about what will happen if the program runs out, said Amy Benson, vice president of government affairs at SAIC, which signed onto the letter. The fear is that the highly skilled workforce will seek jobs in the commercial field if they can't be paid, especially right around the holidays. | | | | BIG SCOOPS IN TRANSITION PLAYBOOK: In the runup to Inauguration Day, president-elect Joe Biden's staffing decisions are sending clear-cut signals about his priorities. What do these signals foretell? Transition Playbook is the definitive guide to one of the most consequential transfers of power in American history. Written for political insiders, this scoop-filled newsletter is breaking big news and analyzing the appointments, people and emerging power centers of the new administration. Track the transition and the first 100 days of the incoming administration. Subscribe today. | | | | | | | | — 'Race matters.' Austin advocates tout his historic candidacy in the face of other concerns: Defense News — As term winds down, Trump shifts Pentagon line of succession: Defense News — 2020 saw the Guard used the most since World War II. Is a retention crisis looming? Army Times — Trump 2022 DoD budget would kill OCO account; huge Navy boost: Breaking Defense — Pentagon official who reportedly loves insane conspiracy theories appointed to West Point board of visitors: Task & Purpose — Trump faces bipartisan, international pushback on Western Sahara recognition: The Hill — Afghan forces kill dozens of Taliban fighters following break in peace talks: The Wall Street Journal — Trump administration moves forward with $1 billion Moroccan arms deal: Reuters — Russian nuclear submarine test-fired 4 missiles: The Associated Press — Joe Biden might have good instincts but his foreign policy team doesn't: The American Conservative — A crisis of confidence, by Jane Harman: Foreign Affairs — Here's how much deadlier today's nukes are compared to WWII A-bombs: Popular Mechanics — BOOK REVIEW: "The Nine Lives of Pakistan," By Declan Walsh: The Washington Post — John le Carré, legendary author of Cold War thrillers, dead at 89: The New York Times | | | | HAPPENING TUESDAY - CONFRONTING INEQUALITY IN AMERICA TOWN HALL : The pandemic-induced recession has put over 40 million Americans at risk of foreclosure and eviction and caused a steady decline in Black homeownership. What solutions need to happen to make housing more inclusive and fair? Join POLITICO for its fourth town hall in the series "Confronting Inequality in America." Our latest town hall explores "The Housing Gap" and will convene policymakers, lawmakers, advocates and mortgage industry leaders to discuss various approaches for eliminating housing inequality as we begin to recover from the Covid-19 recession. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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