The Department of Defense sign, before Incoming Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III arrives at the Pentagon after being confirmed as secretary of defense, Washington, D.C., Jan. 22, 2021. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III has directed a “zero-based review” of all Defense Department advisory committees, according to a DOD memo. General Austin directed all members of the committees to resign from the committees by Feb. 16, according to the memo. There were concerns in the Biden DOD regarding former President Trump 11th-hour naming of his allies to serve on Pentagon boards as he left the White House. Speaking to the press Tuesday, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Defense Secretary Austin was concerned “with the pace and the extent of recent changes to memberships of the department advisory committees done with a bit of frenetic activity in the final two months of the previous administration.” The action does not include presidentially or congressionally appointed committees. While the Defense Policy Board will be affected, the visitors boards of the military academies will not.
“Advisory committees have and will continue to provide an important role in shaping public policy within DoD. That said, our stewardship responsibilities require that we continually assess to ensure each advisory committee provides appropriate value today and in the future, as times and requirements change. I am aware of and appreciate earlier review efforts to reshape how we use advisory committees and consider the tangible benefits they bring to the Department. Nevertheless, I am directing a zero-based review of all DoD advisory committees, to include any advisory committee that is not subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C., Appendix). This review will, by definition and intent, focus our advisory committee efforts to align with our most pressing strategic priorities and the National Defense Strategy.”
-Gen. Austin said in memo to Department
