Jonathan Rath Hoffman, the assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, briefs reporters from the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., August 6, 2020.
Transcript
Good afternoon, everybody. Thanks for calling in or coming into the building today to do a quick press briefing. First and foremost, I want to take a moment to Echo Secretary Esper sentiments and express the department’s deepest condolences to the families of the nine service members who we lost last week in California. Our prayers are with the family, friends and teammates of his brave young men. They also want express the department sympathies and mourning the lives of so many lost in Lebanon on Tuesday. This is a horrific tragedy. General Mackenzie has spoken with the commander of the Lebanese armed forces and informed him of an impending delivery of three C 17 shipments of relief supplies and foodie, including food, water and medical spas. The first of the Air Force see SEVENTEENS with humanitarian aid, has now taken off from cutter bound for Beirut. We will continue to coordinate with Department of State in U. S. A. I. D. On additional aid missions This morning, Secretary Esper had an hour and 1/2 long telephone call with the People’s Republic of China Minister of National Defense General Way Banku. In their discussion, the secretary called for greater trans PRC transparency on COVE. It express concerns about Piercy Piercy destabilizing activity in the vicinity of Taiwan and the South China Sea, and called on the PRC toe honor international obligations. Secretary Esper also communicated the importance that the PRC abide by international laws, rules and norms and meet its international commitments. Finally, Secretary Esper affirm the principles and importance of constructive, stable and results oriented defense relationship between the United States and the PRC. This week we had historic transitions take place across the department as we welcome General Charles CQ Brown as the 22nd chief of staff of the U. S. Air Force and General Daniel Hawkinson as the 29th chief of the National Guard Bureau. We want to thank General Goldfein and General Lingle and their families for their distinguished service and express gratitude for their decades of commitment to our nation. We wish them well in retirement. We also saw significant progress this week with hearings for seven senior D. O D nominees before the Senate Armed Services Committee for Problem positions such as the Under secretary of the Air Force General Counsel, the army and deputy undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence and security. We thank the Senate Armed Services Committee and chairman and the ranking member for having those hearings this week and pursuing and moving this process forward. So with that, I will take your questions. So, first of the phone leader, I think, Jonathan, Two things on Lebanon. Number one. Is there any concerns about any of the aid ending up in Hezbollah hands of her name? Precautions being taken in that regard. Um, and is there any move toe? Have us be involved in any type of investigation into what actually happened there. And second, um, did U s generals give the president inaccurate information? When he said that, they I told him that this was an attack. And have you been able to sort of get to the bottom of this? Is there still any lingering thoughts among the military? This was an attack. Thank you. So first, obviously again reiterate our condolences for for the hundreds killed in the thousands that were injured in Beirut, the investigation into the explosion is ongoing. We’re going to defer to and give the Lebanese government space to complete their investigation and reach their conclusions. I’m not going to offer any any conclusions from from the U. S. Government or from the Intel community today? That’s not not my role. So we’re gonna work with them if they ask for. If they ask for assistance, three us would would be willing to provide that. But I’ll defer to State Department into the coordination of what could take place. Yeah, I think your second calm. Your second question was in regard, Teoh, Uh uh, comments from the president. I would just state that the the situation’s been fast evolving and that on Tuesday and Wednesday, we saw different information come to light. The president and secretary have both been consistent. That we’ve reached no definitive cause for the explosion on that information is still coming in. We’re going to continue to assess it. All right, I’ll go to Ah, right. So last week, the secretary unveiled this plan to move troops out of Germany back home around other parts of Europe and said that some of these units would start making their moves within a matter of weeks. Has there been sort of a call sheet of units who are gonna be notified about those movements? So I would refer you over to Tito. You come into General Walters and his team on the exact timeline of implementation for, uh, the the decision that was announced last week. Obviously, our commitment to NATO and the European Community is ironclad, and we’re going to continue to bolster our NATO forces on bolster our deterrence for Russia. But the timeline that those will take place, obviously, this is something that’s gonna take a little while to implement fully. But as we met Annette, mentioned last week was that there will be some elements that of advanced forces, that may be a transitioning from one location to another to begin for further larger, you know, deployments. But I like I said, I defer. Ugo, you come to get more details on that. Okay. All right. We’ll go the phone. Uh, address Ali Reuters. The shop in question. Mr. Kids started working in his new role, Pentagon yet, and secondly, some senators have called the move to install him without Senate confirmation. Hearing in a process, a mockery for the Pentagon Was this sort of a one off not going through a confirmation process or it’s not gonna be the new norm. I’m going forward. Where someone’s installed without going through Ah Senate process. So, as you’re aware, Mr Tate has been designated, is performing the duties of the deputy undersecretary of defense for policy. This is just a simple delegation that allows an individual to serve ah, performing many of those duties. But it is not a in acting role. Hey, is he does not have all the statutory responsibilities of that. He’s just performing the duties off. I will note that this is not uncommon. This is something that takes place in this organization, others on and in prior administration. I’ll just point out that in the prior administration, a current member of Congress was it designated the senior senior official performing the duties of the deputy undersecretary of defense for policy for over a year. This is not unusual, so this is delegated. Like I said, it’s a delegation of responsibilities and not enacting status. But as I mentioned, we have ah, seven individuals who are before the Senate Armed Services Committee this week that had hearings. Ah, I think four of them had hearings on Tuesday, and three more had hearings today, so the department is still committed to providing names that the president appointed for considerate ization consideration by the Senate and, ah, hopeful confirmation. And, uh, and, uh, placement in positions within the department. Okay, so we’ll go to the next one to Ah, Sylvie hp? Yes. You know, Jonathan, you mentioned the this morning. We the call. We’ve a general way. I wanted to know if the secretary discussed with the Chinese defense Minister visit he wants to make to China this year. And if they decided on a date, and I’m so again get your you didn’t answer the question about the room the aid is given in even on did the government. Or is it NGOs? Thank you for reminding on that. I did. I did forget to respond to that s o right. Now that I differ you over the dissent com Obviously, this has been kind of a fast developing plan with General Mackenzie’s announcement. Only a couple hours ago in the first aircraft just taking off were well aware of some of the concerns with the with whom the aid would go to and ensuring that the aid gets to the people of Lebanon that need it most. So we’ll work with State Department Ah, and in U S A. I D and take their guidance on who to deliver aid to. I don’t have additional information for you on that. Right now. Centcom can get that to you, or we can put you in touch with the right people over at ST in U S. A. I d. To your your second question. Don’t have ah announcement regarding the secretary’s proposed visit. Teoh, China. We’re still looking toe Have that complete this year to talk about as secretary mentioned. Some secretary discussed on this call today some of these incredibly important issues with the with the important nation, which we’re working through. Ah, A number A number of topics. Uh, well, just santa phones will go to a politico. I don’t. And thanks so much for doing this. So, first of all, I just wanted to follow up on the question about general data. I don’t believe it’s normal to designate someone who the Senate has basically essentially rejected at this point as performing the duties of So can you just clarify that point? Um and then my second, my actual question is just about Afghanistan. Has the Pentagon received orders to go down to 4 to 5000 troops in Afghanistan. As the president said, Eso you got your first? What? I’m not gonna discuss hypothetical votes in the Senate, but ah, no, no vote on Mr Data took place. So he withdrew his his name from consideration. Ah, and he was currently serving at the department. And based on his withdrawal from consideration for the position of the undersecretary for policy, hey was placed into a different position from the one he was being considered for. I don’t have the history of every single individual in the department who has been with name that withdrawing from consideration for a Senate hearing. But once again, the placing of an individual, uh, who is currently serving at the department into a P T. D. O position is not unusual. And it’s something that’s happened repeatedly through this administration of previous administrations. So second question, I think, was on Afghanistan. So the president direction on this has been very clear, and the department’s moving to effectively implement that guidance in consultation with Congress and in accordance with our NATO allies. So it’s important. Remember that the resolute support mission is a is a NATO mission on DSO way came to Afghanistan together we fought together. We’ll adjust together, and if conditions are met, we will end up leaving together. So at this time, I’m not gonna get into ah, orders or direction that has been given. But this is an ongoing process. Planning is in place on at the appropriate time. We’ll have additional information and updates for you. All right, Lucas, Jonathan Hezbollah is part of the Lebanese government. Why? What are you doing To make sure that they don’t receive any of this aid money. So just go back. I don’t think we specifically mentioned aid money. We’ve actually mentioned aid in terms of food and medical supplies. And so with with that question, fast evolving situation, Centcom is going to continue to work with State Department U. S A. I d to do what we can to make sure that that aid gets to the Lebanese people in those people that are suffering. We’re optimistic and hopeful that this is an opportunity for all those who want to see ah ah better outcome for the Lebanese people to come together and work for them concerned at all that Hezbollah gets some money. I don’t have any input or inside into money going to Hezbollah in this situation. It’s It’s not coming from the department Defense Department offense. I can kind of read off to you the list of things that are traveling right now. So it’s seven pallets of food, pallets of water, palace of of relief material that are moving out. That’s on that first aircraft. There’s two additional aircraft that are scheduled to depart cutter for for Beirut’s. Are you concerned at all about these recent rocket attacks on your forces in Iraq and some of the supply convoys that come? We’re always concerned about our force protection efforts, General Mackenzie on and the generals on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq. We’ll always take whatever measures they think are necessary to protect our people and our forces. They have the inherent right of self defense on we’ve seen in the past that we are. We will. We will do what is necessary to take care of our men and women in uniform, right? Just one quick follow up on the Afghanistan, the president said. We’re going down toe 4 to 5000 by the election. Does that mean the conditions have been met to cut the U. S troops by half. You said it’s conditions based, so I just want is if the conditions been met, Teoh once again state that the president’s direction on this has been clear. We’ve got an agreement with the Afghan Taliban with Taliban and how we will proceed in Africa, Afghanistan, where we want to end up. It is conditions based. We’re going to do this in consultation with our allies and partners. But today I don’t have an announcement for for that timeline outside of of what things the president said previously, Just on that point, I mean, you’re on duty, released a report last month saying they hadn’t broken with Al Qaeda. Um, the violence levels have remained high, so it doesn’t appear that the conditions are currently being met. So I would say we’re optimistic. I think we have the Afghan government has ah, you know, the government wide meetings, the with Georgia taking place on and we’re optimistic that that can lead to the start of inter Afghan dialogue that could advance the peace process. We’ve seen the prisoner exchanges taking place and so we have Ah, we continue to be optimistic. We continue to help ensure that there is a security environment from our side. The Taliban has ah abided by the reduction in attacks on U. S forces on. They’ve ah followed through on some of the prisoner releases. So we’ll continue to push that with State Department, a State Department lead negotiator in this to see that they they get there and to see that those interacting in negotiations take place and that we do reach a peaceful solution for the Afghan people. Um, quick foot off on Lebanon. Do you have any concerns that the material exploded in Beirut is linked in any way toe Hezbollah or Iran? I’m asking this question because we’re seeing a lot off media reports on this issue. Also, do you trust the an investigation to determine the cause led by the Lebanese government giving that its allies part of this government? So we will Ah, I’m not gonna make any assumptions or assertions about the possible cause of it. As I said it, I’m not going to discuss our intelligence. We are. We’re gonna continue to investigate. We’re gonna continue to watch the investigation that’s conducted by the Lebanese government. Ah, and help, if if necessary, refer vast to get to, Ah, the conclusion about the actual cause. And there’s been speculation about whether this was a could have been a ah weapons cache or could have been, uh hey, uh, some sort of an intentional device or whether this is that many people have posited an accident a terrible, unfortunate accident. So we’re gonna we’re gonna work with with the intelligence community we’re gonna work with. Our allies and partners were gonna wait and see until we reach conclusion about that and then we will we will come forward with him. I have a kitchen. So one needs in South Korea. Another one knows idea. At the U. S. A. Rock rok Italian military exercise going on this month. They have anything on that? Is the scare reduced? And 2nd 1 knows Korea is listen to before to that window and killed the 700 North Koreans include krone, biogas, conformers. Do you have any information about the North Koreans? So any information about the North Korean Corona virus data? I don’t have information on on that that I that I can share this in this setting. Um, and I’m not actually familiar of what the numbers have been reported publicly on that side. I don’t have much. I can offer you there with regard to exercises and in the Republic of Korea. Obviously, we continually evaluate the situation with regard to Covic. So there were some changes or exercise and maneuver efforts during covert with the commander on the ground. General Abrams has made determinations to continue or we’d never stopped training. We never stopped exercising. We’re bringing back some, and we’re adjusting our force training posture. But that’s gonna be ongoing. Part of it is obviously, we’re looking toward the op con transfer, and we want to make sure we take the steps that are necessary to get to that place by ensuring that that capability is is there for the Republic of Korea forces? So thank you. I would follow up. The secretary is going to be the China China show wearing nous or openness to secretary visit. So I don’t have any update on the visit from the call today to share with you. But as soon as we do have an update on either timing or ah, or location or anything like that. I’ll be sure to share it with us. Okay, David? All right, we’ll go back to the phones here, so we’ll go to Ah, uh, Helen Mill Heuser. Well, that Jonathan, thank you so much for doing this. Um, I’m gonna go domestically. The covered response. Is there anything that the Pentagon that the military is doing domestically in support of the nation’s pandemic? We do have some forces that are deployed in California and Texas that are that are in place. Obviously. Additionally, the president extended the National Guard funding opportunities for the next, Actually, for the rest of the year, eso those to ashes were taking place. Third, I would include Operation warp speed, the efforts that we have underway broadly with regard to research and development of therapeutics and vaccines on General Pernas efforts as the CEO of warp speed and helping Marshall the whole of government forces. Teoh, find a vaccine manufacturer and distributed to the American people by the end of the year, eso those would be the main ones that are underway. And obviously we work with FEMA on a daily basis. And this FEMA and HHS identify mission assignments were country or states and counties come forward, identify a need for additional support. Whether it’s for National Guard forces or active duty forces will work with them. Teoh just staff those and to move personnel into those positions. All right, Well, Santa phones will go to Tony Cappuccio, either John. Three annual China Report. When do you anticipate that coming out? And secondly, what areas of transparency with the secretary like to see improved from the P l. A. So I’ll get back to you on the China report. I haven’t been tracking the date on that. I think one of the first ones that obviously is discussed is gonna be on Cove it. We’ve discussed that there are obligations that the Chinese government is under responsibility for with regard to the W H O agreements. So they have a have a need toe, provide samples to provide data that didn’t happen, and we expect them. Teoh continue to improve their information sharing in in regard of that. So that’s one issue that was discussed. I can I can get back to you on a couple other ones, but that with some of the China experts. But that was one that came upon the call today. All right, we’ll go to, um uh, back on the phone will go to Jeff Schobel. Thank you. All right, Um, Ryan, you follow up on the National Guard. Was the Pentagon Did the Pentagon recommend that they fully fund the guard deployments? Or did the Pentagon recommend the 75% funding level? So the Pentagon responsibility on this is you know how the system works is with the funding things. Activity is the theme is responsible for the reimbursement call share assessments. And so that’s FEMA’s role in that process of working with the White House. And so, uh, the department we advocated for, uh, the deployment or the opportunity for the National Guard to be used by states to be continued, we worked with the White House and with the other agencies on on a determination about the cost share and the funding 100% cost shares a very rarely used tool on. In fact, this is Ah, uh, the only time 100% has been used, at least that we’re aware of. And the White House’s shares that 100% has been used nationwide in every state in every county and so very unusual on. So the White House and the president made decision Teoh roll that back to the more traditional 75 25 cost share. But FEMA administers that. Eso I’d have to direct you over toe team in the White House for the actual final decision making on that in Florida and Texas were given exemption, but there’s similarly I know that it’s been a while, but the rates, in fact, Corona virus infection rates are going up in some states, so with you. But there was no petting on recommendation about how this should be done, so that wouldn’t necessarily be our role I don’t want I don’t want it to be misconstrued that the lack of a recommendation would not in a severe, Rowland said. FEMA has the responsibility on the three investment costs here on the White House, works directly with states on that. So I know from previous comments from others and from the from the White House that the president had direct conversation of the governors and reached a determination where he felt the cost share assessment should be on. Look, we’re just we’ve been very encouraged by the work that the National Guard has been able to do and that they’re gonna continue to dio. So every state now continues toe have the availability and access to National Guardsmen to help, whether it’s ah, it’s testing, screening, sanitizing locations, supporting food, banks, areas, eso all of those resources are still available. All of those National Guardsmen who are on orders will still continue to accrue. The retirement and benefits will be no difference. Based on on what the cost share is on that will continue to see CR people out there doing what they’ve been doing for six months. They’ll continue through the end of year and will make an assessment. Is toe whether that continues. Okay. All right, guys, thank you very much.