Pentagon officials say the entire force will be vaccinated against COVID-19 by mid-July, even though some service members have been offered a vaccine up to four times before they finally accept.For months, the Department of Defense has struggled to get active-duty service members in critical national security roles and those deploying to war zones to accept the voluntary COVID-19 vaccine. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recorded a message to the force encouraging soldiers to reach out to their primary care doctor and read about vaccine safety and efficacy on the Centers of Disease Control...…Pentagon officials say the entire force will be vaccinated against COVID-19 by mid-July, even though some service members have been offered a vaccine up to four times before they finally accept.For months, the Department of Defense has struggled to get active-duty service members in critical national security roles and those deploying to war zones to accept the voluntary COVID-19 vaccine. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recorded a message to the force encouraging soldiers to reach out to their primary care doctor and read about vaccine safety and efficacy on the Centers of Disease Control...WW…

CloseNational Guard troops surrounding the U.S. Capitol were surprised to learn Thursday they may be staying in Washington well into the spring — despite a peaceful day after senior law enforcement officials had warned of possible QAnon-inspired violence.Their shock came after Pentagon officials confirmed they had received a request to extend the Guard mission for a reported 60 days despite an unclear threat, with GOP lawmakers railing at what they believe is an unnecessary militarization of the capital city. Republicans contend the Biden administration and Democratic congressional leaders...…CloseNational Guard troops surrounding the U.S. Capitol were surprised to learn Thursday they may be staying in Washington well into the spring — despite a peaceful day after senior law enforcement officials had warned of possible QAnon-inspired violence.Their shock came after Pentagon officials confirmed they had received a request to extend the Guard mission for a reported 60 days despite an unclear threat, with GOP lawmakers railing at what they believe is an unnecessary militarization of the capital city. Republicans contend the Biden administration and Democratic congressional leaders...WW…

CloseRepublican lawmakers continue to object to a deployment around Washington even as law enforcement officials vaguely say they have credible intelligence about an alleged plot toA QAnon-backed conspiracy theory believes that former President Donald Trump will return to office on Thursday. March 4 was Inauguration Day for presidents until the 20th Amendment, ratified in 1933, changed the date to Jan. 20.“We have obtained intelligence that shows a possible plot to breach the Capitol by an identified militia group on Thursday, March 4,” read a Wednesday released by the Capitol Police. “The...…CloseRepublican lawmakers continue to object to a deployment around Washington even as law enforcement officials vaguely say they have credible intelligence about an alleged plot toA QAnon-backed conspiracy theory believes that former President Donald Trump will return to office on Thursday. March 4 was Inauguration Day for presidents until the 20th Amendment, ratified in 1933, changed the date to Jan. 20.“We have obtained intelligence that shows a possible plot to breach the Capitol by an identified militia group on Thursday, March 4,” read a Wednesday released by the Capitol Police. “The...WW…

CloseThe 9,700 National Guard soldiers protecting the U.S. Capitol from “domestic violent extremists” face increasing pressure to return home as COVID infections sideline hundreds of troops and freezing temperatures descend on Washington.The deployment threatens to become yet another hot-button political issue, with some Republican lawmakers beginning to raise doubts about any need for their presence. GOP members could feel pressure from conservative opinion-makers like Fox News evening host Tucker Carlson, who used part of his Wednesday show to call what the Guard is doing in the nation's...…CloseThe 9,700 National Guard soldiers protecting the U.S. Capitol from “domestic violent extremists” face increasing pressure to return home as COVID infections sideline hundreds of troops and freezing temperatures descend on Washington.The deployment threatens to become yet another hot-button political issue, with some Republican lawmakers beginning to raise doubts about any need for their presence. GOP members could feel pressure from conservative opinion-makers like Fox News evening host Tucker Carlson, who used part of his Wednesday show to call what the Guard is doing in the nation's...WW…

The more than 25,000 National Guard troops called to provide inauguration security remained in place Thursday and will continue to patrol the near-vacant capital city until federal agencies release them, military officials said."We are here at the request of federal agencies and will stay as long as we are needed to meet their requirements,” D.C. National Guard spokesman Capt. Tinashe Machona told the Washington Examiner without responding to questions about when troops might begin to depart the District of Columbia.“If we have excess capability and capacity, we want to get those National...…The more than 25,000 National Guard troops called to provide inauguration security remained in place Thursday and will continue to patrol the near-vacant capital city until federal agencies release them, military officials said."We are here at the request of federal agencies and will stay as long as we are needed to meet their requirements,” D.C. National Guard spokesman Capt. Tinashe Machona told the Washington Examiner without responding to questions about when troops might begin to depart the District of Columbia.“If we have excess capability and capacity, we want to get those National...WW…

Following uproar that President-elect Joe Biden's transition team was denied defense intelligence briefings, the Pentagon said Wednesday that nearly 100 officials and four intelligence agencies have already met with the transition team.The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the National Reconnaissance Office, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the National Security Agency all met with Biden officials on Monday and Tuesday, Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said.The update comes after the that requests for intelligence meetings by the Biden transition team were rejected or not...…Following uproar that President-elect Joe Biden's transition team was denied defense intelligence briefings, the Pentagon said Wednesday that nearly 100 officials and four intelligence agencies have already met with the transition team.The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the National Reconnaissance Office, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the National Security Agency all met with Biden officials on Monday and Tuesday, Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said.The update comes after the that requests for intelligence meetings by the Biden transition team were rejected or not...WW…

Widely seen as the most likely of President-elect Joe Biden’s Cabinet picks, precipitously fell from contention for defense secretary over the past two weeks.Defense commentators believe both Biden’s personal relationship with his reported choice, retired Gen. Lloyd Austin, and pressure to choose more black Cabinet members were factors in the decision.“I was surprised,” said Brookings Institution scholar Michael O’Hanlon, who had Flournoy’s chances at being tapped for defense secretary at 90%.“But as the weeks went by, I started to think, well, you know, maybe something else is going on,”...…Widely seen as the most likely of President-elect Joe Biden’s Cabinet picks, precipitously fell from contention for defense secretary over the past two weeks.Defense commentators believe both Biden’s personal relationship with his reported choice, retired Gen. Lloyd Austin, and pressure to choose more black Cabinet members were factors in the decision.“I was surprised,” said Brookings Institution scholar Michael O’Hanlon, who had Flournoy’s chances at being tapped for defense secretary at 90%.“But as the weeks went by, I started to think, well, you know, maybe something else is going on,”...WW…