"These are the kinds of discussions that we need to have to try to avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation," a senior defense official told reporters of the call between Joint Chiefs Chairman CQ Brown and his counterpart in the People's Liberation Army.
"How in the hell do you lose an F-35?"
Kristyn Jones, who is performing the duties of the under secretary of the Air Force, warned that modernization initiatives aimed at countering China would also be at risk if a budget impasse in Congress stretches on.
At the Reagan National Defense Forum, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also emphasized that Jerusalem must minimize civilian deaths in Gaza in order to keep any tactical victory from turning into a strategic defeat.
In a letter to the Senate appropriations chair, Gen. CQ Brown warns, "We cannot outpace our pacing challenge [China] while under a CR.”
"We don't take an oath to a religion. We don't take an oath to a king, or queen, or tyrant, or dictator. And we don't take an oath to a wannabe dictator," Gen. Mark Milley said today.
Gen. Randy George and Gen. Eric Smith will now formally take over leadership of the Army and Marine Corps, respectively.
A breakthrough in a blockade on military confirmations came after the Senate’s top Democrat moved to hold individual votes for Brown, as well as Army and Marine Corps leaders.
“We have 25 fighter squadrons in the Guard right now. And when I look at the global demand, my personal view is I think we need to keep all 25 of those. I think our nation needs that capability,” said National Guard chief Gen. Daniel Hokanson.
Allvin, currently the Air Force's No. 2 officer, has been nominated to succeed Gen. CQ Brown as service chief. But his path forward remains murky as a blanket hold placed on military confirmation by Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville drags on.
Air Force Gen. CQ Brown received praise for his career while fielding some culture war questions from Republicans, and separately indicated he would not work for a defense contractor after serving as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
In addition to the official notice for the next leader of the Marine Corps are nominations for the Missile Defense Agency, US Cyber Command, the DIA and others.
The former fighter pilot and current chief of staff of the Air Force is expected to be a champion for the service’s modernization strategy, as well as an advocate for making the armed services more inclusive.
“So with small numbers of aircraft and with, you know, not a full suite of more modern capabilities, it’s hard to overcome those [air defense] systems," Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall told reporters.
Though Brown is expected to get the nod, a National Security Council spokesperson cautioned that no final decision has been made.