1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,000 2 00:00:04,340 --> 00:00:05,562 afternoon everybody , 3 00:00:09,740 --> 00:00:11,796 let me just get organized here for a 4 00:00:11,796 --> 00:00:15,290 second . 15 . I actually have glasses 5 00:00:15,290 --> 00:00:17,290 so I could probably use them . That 6 00:00:17,290 --> 00:00:17,250 would help . 7 00:00:23,140 --> 00:00:26,100 Okay . If I could just comment at the 8 00:00:26,110 --> 00:00:29,050 top , I think you're all aware . But 9 00:00:29,740 --> 00:00:32,440 Due to the recent increasing spread of 10 00:00:32,450 --> 00:00:35,880 COVID-19 as you know this morning , the 11 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:38,910 pentagon officially went to HP con 12 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:42,260 charlie to protect our workforce , 13 00:00:42,260 --> 00:00:44,316 their families , our communities and 14 00:00:44,316 --> 00:00:46,750 our support to the absolutely critical 15 00:00:46,750 --> 00:00:49,240 mission of this department . We are 16 00:00:49,250 --> 00:00:51,361 monitoring the conditions in the area 17 00:00:51,361 --> 00:00:53,583 surrounding the pentagon and any change 18 00:00:53,583 --> 00:00:55,806 in HP con level will be based of course 19 00:00:55,806 --> 00:00:57,861 upon an analysis of those conditions 20 00:00:57,861 --> 00:01:00,028 and this is no different . Are changed 21 00:01:00,028 --> 00:01:02,139 to charlie . We continue to encourage 22 00:01:02,139 --> 00:01:04,028 all D O . D employees and they're 23 00:01:04,028 --> 00:01:05,861 eligible family members to get a 24 00:01:05,861 --> 00:01:07,972 booster shot and obviously to uh , to 25 00:01:07,972 --> 00:01:09,917 get to get vaccinated to get fully 26 00:01:09,917 --> 00:01:12,083 vaccinated . Of course , as you know , 27 00:01:12,083 --> 00:01:15,610 the um , The requirements under Charlie 28 00:01:15,610 --> 00:01:17,832 are more significant . You can see that 29 00:01:17,832 --> 00:01:19,832 here just in the briefing room , we 30 00:01:19,832 --> 00:01:22,054 went down to I think eight seats . Um , 31 00:01:22,054 --> 00:01:25,530 but but we continue to , you know , 32 00:01:25,540 --> 00:01:28,590 require people to wear masks as 33 00:01:28,590 --> 00:01:30,812 appropriate and social distance and all 34 00:01:30,812 --> 00:01:32,701 the following . All the other CDC 35 00:01:32,701 --> 00:01:35,350 guidelines as well . Okay with that 36 00:01:35,350 --> 00:01:37,580 we'll start taking questions bob . I 37 00:01:37,580 --> 00:01:39,640 think you're on the phone . Yeah , 38 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:43,280 thank you john yes , I am . Have a 39 00:01:43,290 --> 00:01:46,260 question connected to the talks today 40 00:01:46,260 --> 00:01:48,800 in Geneva on the Ukraine crisis and so 41 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:52,350 forth After the talks . Wendy . Sherman 42 00:01:52,350 --> 00:01:54,620 said that the us raised a number of 43 00:01:54,630 --> 00:01:57,590 ideas , including one one related to 44 00:01:57,590 --> 00:02:01,410 missile deployments . She said the , to 45 00:02:01,410 --> 00:02:03,521 quote her , the United States is open 46 00:02:03,521 --> 00:02:05,521 to discussing the future of certain 47 00:02:05,521 --> 00:02:07,521 missile systems in europe along the 48 00:02:07,521 --> 00:02:09,577 lines of the now defunct I . N . F . 49 00:02:09,577 --> 00:02:12,260 Treaty . So my question is given that 50 00:02:12,640 --> 00:02:15,200 after the U . S . Withdrew the media 51 00:02:15,210 --> 00:02:18,160 began work on development of new 52 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:21,780 infringe missiles . Um how would 53 00:02:21,790 --> 00:02:23,901 Secretary Austin feel about returning 54 00:02:23,901 --> 00:02:26,940 to a ban on such missiles given the 55 00:02:26,940 --> 00:02:29,620 current work that is going on those on 56 00:02:29,620 --> 00:02:31,731 with those missiles right now bob . I 57 00:02:31,731 --> 00:02:35,610 think we're just not at the at a point 58 00:02:35,610 --> 00:02:38,920 here either in the and on the 59 00:02:38,920 --> 00:02:41,142 capability side . And that certainly in 60 00:02:41,142 --> 00:02:43,253 the discussions with the Russians for 61 00:02:43,253 --> 00:02:45,770 the Secretary to stake out a hard 62 00:02:45,770 --> 00:02:48,460 position one way or another on that um 63 00:02:48,940 --> 00:02:52,070 uh huh separate and distinct from the 64 00:02:52,070 --> 00:02:54,760 continent of of europe . Uh work 65 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:56,316 continues on those kinds of 66 00:02:56,316 --> 00:02:59,690 capabilities . Um uh and then when you 67 00:02:59,690 --> 00:03:01,912 start to fold in the talks here again , 68 00:03:01,912 --> 00:03:04,079 I won't negotiate here from the podium 69 00:03:04,079 --> 00:03:06,246 and I certainly won't get ahead of our 70 00:03:06,246 --> 00:03:08,357 State Department colleagues in Geneva 71 00:03:08,357 --> 00:03:10,190 uh and as they move on now to to 72 00:03:10,190 --> 00:03:13,000 brussels as their next stop . But uh we 73 00:03:13,010 --> 00:03:16,750 were certainly aware and supportive 74 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:19,560 of uh of the effort to 75 00:03:20,370 --> 00:03:22,960 to be able to talk about missile 76 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:25,350 capabilities on the european continent 77 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:28,100 as uh as one thing that the 78 00:03:28,100 --> 00:03:30,211 administration would be willing to to 79 00:03:30,211 --> 00:03:33,380 look at um assuming of course and this 80 00:03:33,390 --> 00:03:36,970 sometimes gets lost in the in in 81 00:03:36,970 --> 00:03:38,970 the in the discussions about what's 82 00:03:38,970 --> 00:03:41,350 going on in Geneva that there was there 83 00:03:41,350 --> 00:03:43,294 would there would be some level of 84 00:03:43,294 --> 00:03:45,183 reciprocity by the Russians uh in 85 00:03:45,183 --> 00:03:48,150 return for that . Uh So look again I 86 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:52,070 uh kind of backing out broadly here um 87 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:54,600 uh as you know , we have a couple of 88 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:56,433 delegates from the Department of 89 00:03:56,433 --> 00:03:58,544 Defense accompanying Deputy Secretary 90 00:03:58,544 --> 00:04:00,767 Sherman , General Mingus from the Joint 91 00:04:00,767 --> 00:04:02,767 staff and laura cooper from the OsD 92 00:04:02,767 --> 00:04:05,040 staff . Um uh we're very much in 93 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:07,096 support of diplomacy taking the lead 94 00:04:07,096 --> 00:04:10,550 here to try to find a way um uh to to 95 00:04:10,550 --> 00:04:12,717 de escalate the tensions and to get to 96 00:04:12,717 --> 00:04:14,772 a better outcome . Uh We're fully in 97 00:04:14,772 --> 00:04:16,883 support of that um in diplomacy being 98 00:04:16,883 --> 00:04:19,300 the lead element here and in the 99 00:04:19,310 --> 00:04:22,780 department doing what we can um uh to 100 00:04:22,780 --> 00:04:25,130 help foster more fruitful negotiations . 101 00:04:25,130 --> 00:04:27,297 But again I don't want to get ahead of 102 00:04:27,297 --> 00:04:30,090 it jenny . Thank you dan , 103 00:04:31,340 --> 00:04:33,740 on the North korean missile launches 104 00:04:33,750 --> 00:04:36,400 last week . And what is the United 105 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:39,610 States assessment of North Korea's 106 00:04:39,620 --> 00:04:42,950 claims that is fired the hypersonic 107 00:04:42,950 --> 00:04:45,220 missile last week . Yeah , I've seen 108 00:04:45,220 --> 00:04:47,480 the claims . Were aware of the claims . 109 00:04:47,490 --> 00:04:51,430 Uh We don't have any updates to an 110 00:04:51,430 --> 00:04:54,780 assessment about with more specificity 111 00:04:54,780 --> 00:04:57,930 as to what was fired . We've we've 112 00:04:57,930 --> 00:05:00,480 called it a ballistic missile um and we 113 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:02,591 are still assessing the details of it 114 00:05:02,591 --> 00:05:05,990 and as you know ballistic missile uh 115 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:08,111 ballistic missile program them firing 116 00:05:08,111 --> 00:05:10,720 ballistic missiles uh continues to be 117 00:05:10,930 --> 00:05:12,770 in violation of multiple U . N . 118 00:05:12,770 --> 00:05:14,881 Security Council resolutions . And we 119 00:05:14,881 --> 00:05:17,690 certainly call on the Dprk to abide by 120 00:05:17,690 --> 00:05:19,246 those obligations and those 121 00:05:19,246 --> 00:05:21,400 responsibilities and to look for ways 122 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:24,830 to deescalate . Alright , second one at 123 00:05:24,840 --> 00:05:27,820 the two plus two million in the US and 124 00:05:27,830 --> 00:05:31,620 Japan has agreed to join the 125 00:05:31,630 --> 00:05:35,260 develop hypersonic missile response 126 00:05:35,260 --> 00:05:38,990 systems . Can this be seen 127 00:05:38,990 --> 00:05:42,360 as sending a strong signal 128 00:05:42,370 --> 00:05:46,060 to china and North Korea ? I think the 129 00:05:46,060 --> 00:05:48,116 development of advanced capabilities 130 00:05:48,116 --> 00:05:49,949 and certainly the development of 131 00:05:49,949 --> 00:05:52,171 advanced capabilities inside the rubric 132 00:05:52,171 --> 00:05:54,540 of the alliance with Japan really 133 00:05:54,540 --> 00:05:56,590 speaks to the growing tensions and 134 00:05:56,590 --> 00:05:58,757 challenges from a security perspective 135 00:05:58,757 --> 00:06:00,923 that we see in the indo pacific region 136 00:06:00,923 --> 00:06:03,740 writ large . Um there's and look they 137 00:06:03,740 --> 00:06:05,800 talked about a lot of these security 138 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:08,022 threats and challenges last week at the 139 00:06:08,022 --> 00:06:10,244 at the two plus two . You you mentioned 140 00:06:10,244 --> 00:06:12,189 one North Korea uh and and they're 141 00:06:12,189 --> 00:06:14,300 advancing nuclear ambitions and their 142 00:06:14,300 --> 00:06:16,411 ballistic missile program . Uh And of 143 00:06:16,411 --> 00:06:18,244 course we continue to see as the 144 00:06:18,244 --> 00:06:20,578 secretary said in his opening statement , 145 00:06:20,578 --> 00:06:22,800 coercive aggressive behavior out of the 146 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:24,967 people's Republic of china there there 147 00:06:24,967 --> 00:06:27,680 is no shortage of things uh for the 148 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:30,120 United States and Japan to want to 149 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:32,064 continue to talk about and improve 150 00:06:32,064 --> 00:06:34,287 about our alliance and our capabilities 151 00:06:34,287 --> 00:06:36,342 and given the given the tensions and 152 00:06:36,342 --> 00:06:38,330 the challenges in the indo pacific 153 00:06:38,340 --> 00:06:40,340 right now , all right , thank you . 154 00:06:40,340 --> 00:06:44,310 You're welcome tom what 155 00:06:44,310 --> 00:06:46,421 the pentagon will do with the judge's 156 00:06:46,421 --> 00:06:48,643 ruling and the covid case involving the 157 00:06:48,643 --> 00:06:50,930 navy seals . Will you guys appeal . Uh 158 00:06:50,940 --> 00:06:53,310 We have not come up with a strategy 159 00:06:53,310 --> 00:06:55,532 going forward here ? Tom we're still in 160 00:06:55,532 --> 00:06:57,754 discussions with the Justice Department 161 00:06:57,754 --> 00:06:59,810 about what the proper next steps are 162 00:06:59,810 --> 00:07:01,810 gonna be . I would only remind , as 163 00:07:01,810 --> 00:07:03,977 I've said multiple times , the vaccine 164 00:07:03,977 --> 00:07:06,550 is a military medical requirement that 165 00:07:06,550 --> 00:07:08,780 remains in place as far as the I've 166 00:07:08,780 --> 00:07:10,947 been off for a while . So maybe you've 167 00:07:10,947 --> 00:07:13,002 already addressed this as far as the 168 00:07:13,002 --> 00:07:15,280 the governor's with their state guards . 169 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:17,502 Have you ? Has the secretary written to 170 00:07:17,502 --> 00:07:19,391 each of those governors basically 171 00:07:19,391 --> 00:07:21,447 saying , you know , you have to take 172 00:07:21,447 --> 00:07:23,669 the vaccine . We have not replied to uh 173 00:07:23,669 --> 00:07:27,020 the spat of letters we got a couple of 174 00:07:27,020 --> 00:07:29,640 weeks ago before the holidays . Uh , 175 00:07:29,650 --> 00:07:31,483 we're working up the appropriate 176 00:07:31,483 --> 00:07:33,706 responses to that . But there's been no 177 00:07:33,706 --> 00:07:35,817 official reply yet again , um without 178 00:07:35,817 --> 00:07:39,020 getting into uh publicly addressing 179 00:07:39,030 --> 00:07:42,880 these issues that the issues put forth 180 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:44,991 in the Governor's letters will , will 181 00:07:44,991 --> 00:07:47,213 will will reply appropriately . Again . 182 00:07:47,213 --> 00:07:50,360 The vaccine remains a valid military 183 00:07:50,370 --> 00:07:52,910 medical requirement for for unit 184 00:07:52,910 --> 00:07:55,400 readiness . Secretary continues to 185 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:57,900 believe strongly uh , particularly 186 00:07:57,900 --> 00:08:00,480 after his own bout with covid that that 187 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:02,690 the vaccines really do work . And uh 188 00:08:02,700 --> 00:08:04,700 and that it really is when he comes 189 00:08:04,700 --> 00:08:06,533 down right to it . It's a it's a 190 00:08:06,533 --> 00:08:08,422 readiness issue . Let me get this 191 00:08:08,422 --> 00:08:11,360 Excuse me to the phones because we got 192 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:14,142 as you might imagine , a lot more folks 193 00:08:14,142 --> 00:08:16,253 on the phone here than we have in the 194 00:08:16,253 --> 00:08:18,476 room . Carol Rosenberg new york times . 195 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:21,870 Thanks Admiral . Um We're being told 196 00:08:21,870 --> 00:08:24,490 that a Somali detainee got a visit in 197 00:08:24,490 --> 00:08:27,040 his cell at Guantanamo this morning and 198 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:29,096 was told he was approved for release 199 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:31,880 with security arrangements . Can you 200 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:34,102 confirm that and say how many detainees 201 00:08:34,102 --> 00:08:36,269 have been so notified ? It sounds like 202 00:08:36,269 --> 00:08:38,750 others got notices recently . The 203 00:08:38,750 --> 00:08:40,861 sister of another forever prisoner in 204 00:08:40,861 --> 00:08:42,972 Yemeni announced his release decision 205 00:08:42,972 --> 00:08:45,083 on facebook . So how many are there ? 206 00:08:45,340 --> 00:08:47,790 Thanks carol . I actually I can't 207 00:08:47,790 --> 00:08:50,810 confirm those uh those reports , Carol 208 00:08:50,810 --> 00:08:54,220 have no transfers out of Guantanamo to 209 00:08:54,220 --> 00:08:57,810 speak to today follow up . This is not 210 00:08:57,810 --> 00:08:59,866 a question about a transfer . It's a 211 00:08:59,866 --> 00:09:01,643 question about approval but the 212 00:09:01,643 --> 00:09:04,790 periodic review board um which is I 213 00:09:04,790 --> 00:09:06,901 guess based on the pentagon and under 214 00:09:06,901 --> 00:09:09,620 Os D . P . A . I didn't give you the 215 00:09:09,620 --> 00:09:11,731 same answer right now , carol again I 216 00:09:11,731 --> 00:09:14,920 um I've I've heard those rumors but I 217 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:17,087 really don't have anything to speak to 218 00:09:17,087 --> 00:09:19,660 in terms of review board approvals or 219 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:22,040 um or decisions , I just don't have 220 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:25,250 anything to speak to about today and it 221 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:27,650 take it . Thanks Jeff . 222 00:09:31,140 --> 00:09:34,410 Thank you . Can Osd say why booster 223 00:09:34,420 --> 00:09:37,840 shots are encouraged but not required 224 00:09:37,850 --> 00:09:40,050 for service members , Jeff . No thanks 225 00:09:40,050 --> 00:09:42,630 for that question . Um We are still in 226 00:09:42,640 --> 00:09:46,600 discussions here at the pentagon about 227 00:09:46,610 --> 00:09:49,600 about the booster shots and um and 228 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:51,770 there's been no there's been no 229 00:09:51,770 --> 00:09:53,840 decision made about making them 230 00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:56,040 mandatory . They they are still not 231 00:09:56,040 --> 00:09:59,780 mandatory . Um but as the secretary has 232 00:09:59,780 --> 00:10:03,070 said many times to the force that as I 233 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:05,240 in fact , I think I just did that if 234 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:07,129 you're eligible , uh you meet the 235 00:10:07,129 --> 00:10:09,260 criteria ? We absolutely encourage 236 00:10:09,460 --> 00:10:12,330 those members of our workforce to get 237 00:10:12,330 --> 00:10:14,430 the booster shots because it really 238 00:10:14,430 --> 00:10:17,750 does help lessen uh the effects if in 239 00:10:17,750 --> 00:10:21,480 fact uh one contracts the virus . So no 240 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:23,424 decision yet . We're still talking 241 00:10:23,424 --> 00:10:25,300 about that . Um and obviously if 242 00:10:25,300 --> 00:10:27,740 there's a change to the current posture 243 00:10:27,740 --> 00:10:29,962 with respect to boosters will certainly 244 00:10:29,962 --> 00:10:32,760 let you know , carla babb , 245 00:10:33,940 --> 00:10:36,340 mhm . Hey john , thanks for taking our 246 00:10:36,340 --> 00:10:38,310 questions going back to Russia . 247 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:40,870 Ukraine . According to Wendy , Sherman , 248 00:10:40,870 --> 00:10:42,759 Russia has claimed that it has no 249 00:10:42,759 --> 00:10:45,970 intentions to attack Ukraine again . Um 250 00:10:45,980 --> 00:10:48,050 so how confident is the U . S . 251 00:10:48,050 --> 00:10:50,440 Military in such a statement by Russia ? 252 00:10:50,450 --> 00:10:53,310 And has the pentagon seen any decrease 253 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:56,220 in Russian military's presence around 254 00:10:56,220 --> 00:11:00,050 Ukraine ? You see no major uh changes 255 00:11:00,050 --> 00:11:02,440 to the force posture by the Russians uh 256 00:11:02,450 --> 00:11:04,850 in the border areas around Ukraine uh , 257 00:11:04,860 --> 00:11:07,082 there continues to be a sizable element 258 00:11:07,082 --> 00:11:10,000 there . Um so nothing specific to speak 259 00:11:10,010 --> 00:11:12,990 to , at least in in a macro sense . Um 260 00:11:12,990 --> 00:11:15,212 and I would just refer you back to what 261 00:11:15,212 --> 00:11:17,157 Deputy Secretary Sherman said when 262 00:11:17,157 --> 00:11:19,212 asked about those those comments . I 263 00:11:19,212 --> 00:11:21,323 mean , she was very clear that if the 264 00:11:21,323 --> 00:11:23,657 Russians are serious about deescalating , 265 00:11:23,657 --> 00:11:25,879 they can start by by starting to remove 266 00:11:25,879 --> 00:11:25,440 some of those troops from decreasing 267 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:28,420 some of that that force posture , mm 268 00:11:28,420 --> 00:11:31,860 hmm , You said no major reductions . 269 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:34,407 There have been some reports that some 270 00:11:34,407 --> 00:11:36,462 of the Russian troops around Ukraine 271 00:11:36,462 --> 00:11:38,518 have gone up too . Kazakhstan , have 272 00:11:38,518 --> 00:11:40,684 you seen any indication ? I don't know 273 00:11:40,684 --> 00:11:42,629 that that's true . I've seen those 274 00:11:42,629 --> 00:11:44,740 reports to what I can tell you is and 275 00:11:44,740 --> 00:11:44,470 again , we've been very careful not to 276 00:11:44,470 --> 00:11:47,450 get into a day by day , sort of blow by 277 00:11:47,450 --> 00:11:50,960 blow analysis of what they have uh 278 00:11:51,540 --> 00:11:53,940 around you , the the eastern part of 279 00:11:53,950 --> 00:11:55,980 Ukraine , what I can tell you with 280 00:11:55,980 --> 00:11:58,830 confidence is we have not seen um any 281 00:11:58,830 --> 00:12:02,010 decreases . Uh they continue to have a 282 00:12:02,020 --> 00:12:05,060 a sizeable uh force posture 283 00:12:05,070 --> 00:12:07,970 uh right to the right to the east , to 284 00:12:07,970 --> 00:12:10,081 the north and and even to the south . 285 00:12:10,081 --> 00:12:12,192 Um And we've seen no major changes to 286 00:12:12,192 --> 00:12:14,303 that . So I wasn't trying to get hung 287 00:12:14,303 --> 00:12:16,359 up on the word significant . I was I 288 00:12:16,359 --> 00:12:18,470 guess I was trying to nod to the fact 289 00:12:18,470 --> 00:12:18,450 that we aren't going to get into a 290 00:12:18,450 --> 00:12:20,728 detailed assessment one way or another . 291 00:12:20,728 --> 00:12:22,730 But the situation remains that they 292 00:12:22,740 --> 00:12:24,796 have a sizable force posture there . 293 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:28,984 Guantanamo Bay Detention Centre is 294 00:12:28,984 --> 00:12:32,830 turning 20 tomorrow . Um President 295 00:12:32,830 --> 00:12:35,730 biden has promised to close the prison 296 00:12:35,970 --> 00:12:39,250 new york Times reported late last year 297 00:12:39,650 --> 00:12:41,880 that the pentagon is building a second 298 00:12:41,880 --> 00:12:45,730 courtroom . Can you highlight 299 00:12:45,740 --> 00:12:48,840 or update us on any steps that have 300 00:12:48,850 --> 00:12:50,906 been taken by the D . O . D . Or the 301 00:12:50,906 --> 00:12:53,400 administration in general towards 302 00:12:53,410 --> 00:12:55,640 fulfilling that promise ? Well , I will 303 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:57,640 tell you the administration remains 304 00:12:57,640 --> 00:12:59,584 dedicated to closing the detention 305 00:12:59,584 --> 00:13:01,473 facility at Guantanamo Bay , that 306 00:13:01,473 --> 00:13:03,473 there's nothing , nothing's changed 307 00:13:03,473 --> 00:13:05,584 about that . We are in a review right 308 00:13:05,584 --> 00:13:07,751 now about the way forward there . So I 309 00:13:07,751 --> 00:13:10,840 won't get ahead of that ? Um uh But to 310 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:13,130 that end , as the National Security 311 00:13:13,130 --> 00:13:15,352 Council staff continues to work closely 312 00:13:15,352 --> 00:13:17,463 with with us here at D . O . D . With 313 00:13:17,463 --> 00:13:19,686 the State Department , with the Justice 314 00:13:19,686 --> 00:13:21,741 Department and other departments and 315 00:13:21,741 --> 00:13:23,908 agencies across the federal government 316 00:13:23,908 --> 00:13:23,530 about what that's gonna look like going 317 00:13:23,530 --> 00:13:26,460 forward . And what is that review ? I 318 00:13:26,460 --> 00:13:28,682 would point you to my colleagues at the 319 00:13:28,682 --> 00:13:30,571 National Security Council staff , 320 00:13:30,571 --> 00:13:32,682 they're running that process , but we 321 00:13:32,682 --> 00:13:34,682 continue to be committed to closing 322 00:13:34,682 --> 00:13:37,130 down that facility . Um And of course 323 00:13:37,130 --> 00:13:39,870 to uh that means whittling down the 324 00:13:39,870 --> 00:13:42,037 population , which is very small right 325 00:13:42,037 --> 00:13:45,080 now . I think Uh there's a less than 326 00:13:45,100 --> 00:13:47,830 less , just over three dozen detainees 327 00:13:47,830 --> 00:13:50,770 remain from the nearly 800 that were 328 00:13:50,770 --> 00:13:53,390 there at its peak . So small number , 329 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:55,662 not surprisingly , they are the hardest 330 00:13:55,662 --> 00:13:57,810 cases uh to to to deal with and to 331 00:13:57,810 --> 00:14:00,670 adjudicate . Um and so we're working 332 00:14:00,670 --> 00:14:02,892 our way through that right now . So but 333 00:14:02,892 --> 00:14:06,230 up until this review is over again , I 334 00:14:06,230 --> 00:14:08,563 don't want to get ahead . No I wouldn't . 335 00:14:08,563 --> 00:14:11,280 You're asking for concrete steps to 336 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:13,169 close it . Well , that's what the 337 00:14:13,169 --> 00:14:15,224 review is about . Is helping us find 338 00:14:15,224 --> 00:14:17,280 out what the best concrete steps are 339 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:19,391 are for . In the meantime though , in 340 00:14:19,391 --> 00:14:21,502 the meantime , again without speaking 341 00:14:21,502 --> 00:14:23,613 to carol's questions specifically , I 342 00:14:23,613 --> 00:14:23,130 don't have anything to announce or 343 00:14:23,130 --> 00:14:25,241 speak to with respect to that today . 344 00:14:25,241 --> 00:14:27,463 But in the meantime we continue to look 345 00:14:27,463 --> 00:14:29,686 uh and have looked for ways through the 346 00:14:29,686 --> 00:14:33,230 review board process to to transfer and 347 00:14:33,230 --> 00:14:35,680 relocate detainees outside of the 348 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:38,000 facility . Can you , can you say how 349 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:40,080 many might be eligible for ? 350 00:14:40,090 --> 00:14:43,750 Reallocation ? So I would tell you 13 351 00:14:43,750 --> 00:14:45,972 of the remaining detainees are eligible 352 00:14:45,972 --> 00:14:48,600 for transfer . The diplomatic process 353 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:50,489 is underway to work to transfer , 354 00:14:50,489 --> 00:14:52,830 repatriate them as appropriate . 14 are 355 00:14:52,840 --> 00:14:55,110 eligible for a periodic review board . 356 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:57,120 All of them have undergone a review 357 00:14:57,120 --> 00:14:59,398 since the start of this administration . 358 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:01,218 10 are involved in the military 359 00:15:01,218 --> 00:15:03,051 commissions process with charges 360 00:15:03,051 --> 00:15:04,718 pending or trial or pre trial 361 00:15:04,718 --> 00:15:06,970 proceedings that are underway . And two 362 00:15:06,970 --> 00:15:09,380 day two detainees have been convicted 363 00:15:09,380 --> 00:15:13,310 in military commissions . Thank you . 364 00:15:13,770 --> 00:15:16,050 You're welcome . Let me get back to 365 00:15:17,840 --> 00:15:20,960 the phones here . Tom Squitieri 366 00:15:21,740 --> 00:15:23,851 john good afternoon . Thanks . I have 367 00:15:23,851 --> 00:15:26,018 two questions emanating from Ukraine . 368 00:15:26,018 --> 00:15:28,073 One is over the last couple of weeks 369 00:15:28,073 --> 00:15:30,296 Swedish for Swedish . Defense ministers 370 00:15:30,296 --> 00:15:32,518 have been very strong in their language 371 00:15:32,518 --> 00:15:34,351 and support of NATO and a strong 372 00:15:34,351 --> 00:15:36,184 position on Ukraine . Likewise , 373 00:15:36,184 --> 00:15:38,407 Finland has said , you know , if Russia 374 00:15:38,407 --> 00:15:40,518 pushes it , it could consider joining 375 00:15:40,518 --> 00:15:42,684 NATO , one of the advantages of having 376 00:15:42,684 --> 00:15:44,907 Sweden and Finland and NATO . That's my 377 00:15:44,907 --> 00:15:47,073 first question , please . Tom that's a 378 00:15:47,073 --> 00:15:49,490 question really put uh 379 00:15:49,500 --> 00:15:53,210 22 NATO officials in Brussels and to 380 00:15:53,220 --> 00:15:55,498 the governments of those two countries . 381 00:15:55,498 --> 00:15:58,830 Um uh as you've heard us say many times 382 00:15:58,830 --> 00:16:01,400 before NATO membership is between uh 383 00:16:01,410 --> 00:16:03,521 the individual nation wanting to join 384 00:16:03,521 --> 00:16:06,550 and the alliance uh in any decision one 385 00:16:06,550 --> 00:16:08,717 way or another are going to be made by 386 00:16:08,717 --> 00:16:10,883 those two parties . So that's really a 387 00:16:10,883 --> 00:16:12,717 better question put to those two 388 00:16:12,717 --> 00:16:14,939 governments . I would not even begin to 389 00:16:14,939 --> 00:16:14,910 speak for the sovereign governments of 390 00:16:14,910 --> 00:16:16,910 Sweden and Finland . Alright , fair 391 00:16:16,910 --> 00:16:19,360 enough . My second question is um over 392 00:16:19,370 --> 00:16:21,230 over the weekend british defense 393 00:16:21,230 --> 00:16:23,119 officials raised the concern that 394 00:16:23,119 --> 00:16:26,240 Russia may cut the cables on the 395 00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:28,240 undersea cables and they considered 396 00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:30,407 such an act an act of war . Given your 397 00:16:30,407 --> 00:16:32,629 knowledge of the law of warfare , would 398 00:16:32,629 --> 00:16:34,851 you would the pentagon consider such an 399 00:16:34,851 --> 00:16:37,018 action an act of war ? I'm not I'm not 400 00:16:37,018 --> 00:16:39,240 seeing those reports tom one way or the 401 00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:41,407 other . So I think I'm gonna I'm gonna 402 00:16:41,407 --> 00:16:43,950 declined to speculate on what is or 403 00:16:43,950 --> 00:16:46,006 isn't an act of war when it comes to 404 00:16:46,006 --> 00:16:48,006 undersea cables ? I've not seen the 405 00:16:48,006 --> 00:16:50,228 british comments . So uh so I think I'm 406 00:16:50,228 --> 00:16:52,394 gonna I think I'm going to take a pass 407 00:16:52,394 --> 00:16:54,450 on that today . Alright , thanks for 408 00:16:54,450 --> 00:16:57,600 your time . Okay , Mike breast of the 409 00:16:57,600 --> 00:16:59,860 Washington examiner . Mike breast 410 00:17:02,140 --> 00:17:04,251 thanks mr Kirby question was actually 411 00:17:04,251 --> 00:17:06,307 already asked and answered thank you 412 00:17:06,307 --> 00:17:08,170 mike Tony to paseo . 413 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:17,447 Sorry , I muted myself Tony to paseo . 414 00:17:20,810 --> 00:17:23,540 Sorry I muted myself accidentally . The 415 00:17:23,540 --> 00:17:25,373 D . O . D . Assessment team that 416 00:17:25,373 --> 00:17:27,790 visited Ukraine lately recently . Have 417 00:17:27,790 --> 00:17:29,901 they produced any recommendations for 418 00:17:29,901 --> 00:17:31,901 the types of weapons or equipment , 419 00:17:31,901 --> 00:17:34,030 Ukrainian military may need Or is it 420 00:17:34,030 --> 00:17:36,197 still crafting a recommendation to the 421 00:17:36,197 --> 00:17:38,197 inter agency . You know , they were 422 00:17:38,197 --> 00:17:40,141 largely looking at air and missile 423 00:17:40,141 --> 00:17:42,363 defense as I understand it uh Tony that 424 00:17:42,363 --> 00:17:44,580 and they've been back awhile . Um I'll 425 00:17:44,580 --> 00:17:47,100 take your question to see if if there 426 00:17:47,100 --> 00:17:48,711 was some sort of more formal 427 00:17:48,711 --> 00:17:50,656 recommendations made . I'm I'm not 428 00:17:50,656 --> 00:17:52,544 aware of a formal report that was 429 00:17:52,544 --> 00:17:54,970 issued . Uh They just took a look uh 430 00:17:54,970 --> 00:17:57,290 and consulted with the Ukrainians about 431 00:17:57,290 --> 00:17:59,820 what they believed there . Uh their 432 00:17:59,820 --> 00:18:01,987 their air defense needs were I I would 433 00:18:01,987 --> 00:18:03,987 just tell you that you know , we we 434 00:18:03,987 --> 00:18:06,042 have and we will continue to provide 435 00:18:06,042 --> 00:18:07,931 security assistance to Ukraine as 436 00:18:07,931 --> 00:18:10,620 appropriate going forward . Um uh We 437 00:18:10,620 --> 00:18:12,810 remain committed to helping Ukraine be 438 00:18:12,810 --> 00:18:15,170 able to defend itself across a range of 439 00:18:15,180 --> 00:18:17,930 capabilities . Quite frankly , our 440 00:18:17,930 --> 00:18:19,874 Stinger missiles though one of the 441 00:18:19,874 --> 00:18:21,870 weapons that the team is eyeing to 442 00:18:21,870 --> 00:18:24,340 recommend that would be a major 443 00:18:24,340 --> 00:18:27,210 escalation of our of our weaponry to 444 00:18:27,210 --> 00:18:29,377 the Ukrainians if we gave them Stinger 445 00:18:29,377 --> 00:18:31,599 missiles . Yeah . Again , Tony I've got 446 00:18:31,599 --> 00:18:33,710 nothing specific to speak to in terms 447 00:18:33,710 --> 00:18:36,660 of future capabilities um or the uh or 448 00:18:36,660 --> 00:18:38,882 whatever the assessment team you know , 449 00:18:38,882 --> 00:18:41,780 uh learned . Um I just I don't have 450 00:18:41,780 --> 00:18:44,040 anything specific for you on that . I 451 00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:46,940 mean what I would again tell you is we 452 00:18:46,940 --> 00:18:49,051 have in the past and we will continue 453 00:18:49,051 --> 00:18:52,970 um uh to provide articles which 454 00:18:52,980 --> 00:18:55,170 will allow Ukraine to better defend 455 00:18:55,170 --> 00:18:57,070 itself . Okay , please give me a 456 00:18:57,070 --> 00:18:59,237 written to give us a written answer if 457 00:18:59,237 --> 00:19:01,403 you can put Stingers in there or not . 458 00:19:01,403 --> 00:19:03,626 Thank you . I'll do the best I can Tony 459 00:19:03,626 --> 00:19:05,792 but again I I I don't want to get your 460 00:19:05,792 --> 00:19:07,848 hopes up on a whole heck of a lot of 461 00:19:07,848 --> 00:19:10,470 specificity here heather from us . And 462 00:19:10,470 --> 00:19:13,450 I I thank you so much for taking the 463 00:19:13,450 --> 00:19:15,617 question um When it comes to religious 464 00:19:15,617 --> 00:19:18,330 exemptions given the um the Navy and 465 00:19:18,330 --> 00:19:20,386 the Marine Corps and the rest of the 466 00:19:20,386 --> 00:19:22,850 branches um lack of exemptions is the 467 00:19:23,350 --> 00:19:25,406 the D . O . D . Policy in good faith 468 00:19:25,406 --> 00:19:27,940 when it comes to um the religious 469 00:19:27,940 --> 00:19:30,590 exemption process . Can you repeat that 470 00:19:30,590 --> 00:19:33,770 last part ? I didn't understand the D . 471 00:19:33,770 --> 00:19:36,240 O . D . Policy on what on religious 472 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:39,510 exemptions for vaccines . Is it still 473 00:19:39,510 --> 00:19:41,677 in good faith given that there haven't 474 00:19:41,677 --> 00:19:43,732 been any exemptions and and the Navy 475 00:19:43,732 --> 00:19:45,899 hasn't been any exemptions in the past 476 00:19:45,899 --> 00:19:47,899 seven years . Yeah . Look the short 477 00:19:47,899 --> 00:19:50,066 answer to your question heather is yes 478 00:19:50,066 --> 00:19:52,066 of course it's in good faith no pun 479 00:19:52,066 --> 00:19:54,430 intended . Um They but the but the 480 00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:56,880 process by which religious exemptions 481 00:19:56,880 --> 00:19:59,010 are reviewed and adjudicated and 482 00:19:59,010 --> 00:20:01,232 ultimately decided one way or the other 483 00:20:01,232 --> 00:20:03,590 is is uh controlled by each of the 484 00:20:03,590 --> 00:20:06,770 military departments uh the 485 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:10,640 the army , uh the Department of the 486 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:12,584 Navy and the Department of the Air 487 00:20:12,584 --> 00:20:14,640 Force Space Force . So um that's all 488 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:16,640 the Department of the Air Force , I 489 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:18,640 apologize . Um But they they are in 490 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:20,807 charge of adjudicating those exemption 491 00:20:20,807 --> 00:20:22,918 requests and making those decisions . 492 00:20:22,918 --> 00:20:25,560 But in terms of your broader question 493 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:28,500 which is I think you know when does D . 494 00:20:28,500 --> 00:20:31,420 O . D . Still believe in in the the 495 00:20:31,420 --> 00:20:33,720 value of a religious exemption process 496 00:20:33,720 --> 00:20:36,300 for this or any other vaccine ? The 497 00:20:36,300 --> 00:20:38,960 answer is yes , we do . We believe that 498 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:41,620 there should be a channel of vehicle 499 00:20:41,630 --> 00:20:44,650 through which uh men and women of the 500 00:20:44,650 --> 00:20:46,520 workforce who believe they have 501 00:20:47,530 --> 00:20:51,250 legitimate religious um exemptions to 502 00:20:51,250 --> 00:20:54,740 seek on on their on their behalf that 503 00:20:54,740 --> 00:20:57,980 they have a process um , to to make 504 00:20:57,980 --> 00:21:00,091 that request and to have that request 505 00:21:00,091 --> 00:21:02,313 treated seriously . Um , I would remind 506 00:21:02,313 --> 00:21:04,536 that again , I I understand the numbers 507 00:21:04,536 --> 00:21:06,702 are zero right now in terms of covid , 508 00:21:06,702 --> 00:21:08,702 but even the services will tell you 509 00:21:08,702 --> 00:21:11,360 they still have a backlog of of in some 510 00:21:11,360 --> 00:21:13,700 cases thousands of additional religious 511 00:21:13,700 --> 00:21:15,870 exemptions requests to work through . 512 00:21:15,870 --> 00:21:19,760 So this is an ongoing process . Yeah . 513 00:21:21,140 --> 00:21:24,220 Thank you Jon . Last week you said that 514 00:21:24,230 --> 00:21:27,450 uh , us expected the increase in the 515 00:21:27,450 --> 00:21:29,680 level of attacks on Iraq and Syria . 516 00:21:29,690 --> 00:21:32,460 And also it maintained of course the 517 00:21:32,460 --> 00:21:35,660 right of self defense . My question is 518 00:21:35,670 --> 00:21:38,780 if the department will stay on the 519 00:21:38,780 --> 00:21:42,680 defensive side or position there or if 520 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:46,470 it has maybe or it's considering a plan 521 00:21:46,480 --> 00:21:49,050 to maybe intervene in the future to 522 00:21:49,050 --> 00:21:51,280 prevent such attacks . 523 00:21:52,640 --> 00:21:56,060 Hmm , I would tell you that 524 00:21:58,240 --> 00:22:00,890 we retain the right of self defense to 525 00:22:00,890 --> 00:22:04,080 protect our troops . And you saw in 526 00:22:04,080 --> 00:22:07,830 Syria a week or so ago , uh , that 527 00:22:07,840 --> 00:22:11,780 uh , that inherent resolve commanders 528 00:22:11,780 --> 00:22:14,260 actually took some steps preemptively 529 00:22:14,390 --> 00:22:16,720 as they saw launch sites being 530 00:22:16,720 --> 00:22:19,670 developed around green village um , to 531 00:22:19,670 --> 00:22:22,970 strike those sites before rocket 532 00:22:22,970 --> 00:22:25,600 attacks came in . Um , so protecting 533 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:27,822 the troops means doing what you have to 534 00:22:27,822 --> 00:22:29,656 do with the information you have 535 00:22:29,656 --> 00:22:31,489 available in your authorities to 536 00:22:31,489 --> 00:22:33,544 protect the troops . Um So I I don't 537 00:22:33,544 --> 00:22:35,711 know I mean I understand the nature of 538 00:22:35,711 --> 00:22:37,822 the question offense versus defense . 539 00:22:37,822 --> 00:22:40,156 They have the right of force protection , 540 00:22:40,156 --> 00:22:42,378 self protection , self defense . Excuse 541 00:22:42,378 --> 00:22:44,544 me . Um And we expect commanders to to 542 00:22:44,544 --> 00:22:46,489 act on those authorities and those 543 00:22:46,489 --> 00:22:48,600 responsibilities in the way they seem 544 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:50,489 that they deem best fit given the 545 00:22:50,489 --> 00:22:52,433 threat that they're facing in Iraq 546 00:22:52,433 --> 00:22:54,489 where the mission is different . Now 547 00:22:54,489 --> 00:22:56,600 you still have the same capability to 548 00:22:56,600 --> 00:22:59,480 solve and protect your troops . We are 549 00:22:59,480 --> 00:23:01,480 in a different mission , advise and 550 00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:03,690 assist . That is true that officially 551 00:23:03,690 --> 00:23:05,801 changed over at the end of the year . 552 00:23:05,801 --> 00:23:08,550 Um But that doesn't mean that our 553 00:23:08,550 --> 00:23:10,820 commanders have any less ability or 554 00:23:10,820 --> 00:23:13,550 less responsibility to defend 555 00:23:13,550 --> 00:23:15,717 themselves and defend and defend their 556 00:23:15,717 --> 00:23:18,460 troops . And uh and as well as our 557 00:23:18,470 --> 00:23:20,137 Iraqi security force partners 558 00:23:22,910 --> 00:23:25,990 Caitlin from stars and stripes . Hey 559 00:23:25,990 --> 00:23:28,690 john thanks Hey on friday duty 560 00:23:28,690 --> 00:23:32,150 announced it had awarded 50 some 561 00:23:32,150 --> 00:23:34,810 million dollar grant to purchase at 562 00:23:34,810 --> 00:23:36,699 home . Covid tests to support the 563 00:23:36,699 --> 00:23:38,699 president's mission . Wondering how 564 00:23:38,699 --> 00:23:40,754 many covid tests that helped or that 565 00:23:40,754 --> 00:23:43,310 that purchased and also why it was D . 566 00:23:43,310 --> 00:23:45,532 O . D . That made that purchase and not 567 00:23:45,532 --> 00:23:48,050 another agency that's more interior 568 00:23:48,050 --> 00:23:50,272 motivated . I don't know that I have an 569 00:23:50,272 --> 00:23:52,350 exact number of how many tests that 570 00:23:52,360 --> 00:23:55,930 that that that got us Caitlin so 571 00:23:55,940 --> 00:23:58,180 why don't you let me take your 572 00:23:58,180 --> 00:24:00,236 questions and get back to you rather 573 00:24:00,236 --> 00:24:03,280 than spitball from up here . Okay , 574 00:24:03,280 --> 00:24:06,670 thank you , Christine . 575 00:24:07,640 --> 00:24:10,780 Mhm . Mhm Tina Anderson , 576 00:24:14,240 --> 00:24:17,340 sorry , Christina , Yes . Oh , great , 577 00:24:17,350 --> 00:24:19,590 thank you for taking my question . Um 578 00:24:19,590 --> 00:24:22,560 the osc e uh special monitoring mission 579 00:24:22,570 --> 00:24:26,170 has reported change in level of 580 00:24:26,170 --> 00:24:28,960 ceasefire violations from both the 581 00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:32,090 Donetsk and Luhansk regions . Wonder 582 00:24:32,100 --> 00:24:35,350 there's a big increase . Um is the 583 00:24:35,350 --> 00:24:37,450 upshot of it ? Would you like to 584 00:24:37,460 --> 00:24:39,682 comment on that ? Is there anything any 585 00:24:39,682 --> 00:24:41,960 conclusions we should draw ? Thank you . 586 00:24:42,540 --> 00:24:44,651 I'm sorry , Can you repeat it again ? 587 00:24:45,140 --> 00:24:48,940 Um The OsC e special monitoring 588 00:24:48,940 --> 00:24:52,580 mission which patrols the uh line of 589 00:24:52,580 --> 00:24:56,210 demarcation in uh Ukraine's um 590 00:24:56,220 --> 00:24:59,740 Crimea area has just reported 591 00:24:59,750 --> 00:25:02,590 today . Um uptick in the ceasefire 592 00:25:02,590 --> 00:25:05,530 violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk 593 00:25:05,540 --> 00:25:07,960 regions . That's pretty significant 594 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:11,910 From 152 violations . And then the 595 00:25:11,920 --> 00:25:15,080 Donetsk region to uh previously it was 596 00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:18,240 only 85 In Luhansk . It's gone from 58 597 00:25:18,250 --> 00:25:21,660 to 7 91 . I was wondering if you might 598 00:25:21,670 --> 00:25:24,340 have thoughts about that , The OsC 599 00:25:24,340 --> 00:25:27,480 report , certainly I'm in uh not not 600 00:25:27,480 --> 00:25:29,480 refuting it at all . I just haven't 601 00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:31,860 seen it . Um I would just tell you that 602 00:25:32,340 --> 00:25:35,680 ah as we've said before , 603 00:25:35,690 --> 00:25:39,580 uh we want to see uh the 604 00:25:39,580 --> 00:25:41,802 tensions deescalate . We certainly want 605 00:25:41,802 --> 00:25:44,780 to see the violence stop um is clear 606 00:25:44,780 --> 00:25:48,740 that Ukrainian troops are in a hot war 607 00:25:48,750 --> 00:25:51,660 every single day uh in that area in the 608 00:25:51,660 --> 00:25:54,980 Donbas region ? Um and as we have said 609 00:25:54,980 --> 00:25:58,980 many times . Um it's important for the 610 00:25:58,990 --> 00:26:01,420 Russians to observe by observe the 611 00:26:01,420 --> 00:26:04,790 Minsk agreements uh , to pull back um , 612 00:26:04,790 --> 00:26:07,068 and to cease and to cease the violence . 613 00:26:07,068 --> 00:26:09,234 We've been very clear about that . But 614 00:26:09,234 --> 00:26:11,401 again , I can't speak with specificity 615 00:26:11,401 --> 00:26:14,060 on this exact the osC report . I just 616 00:26:14,060 --> 00:26:17,140 haven't seen it . Christina . Thank you . 617 00:26:17,420 --> 00:26:19,950 Okay . And uh looks like the last one 618 00:26:19,950 --> 00:26:23,890 for today . Abraham . Hey john , 619 00:26:23,890 --> 00:26:24,890 can you hear me ? 620 00:26:28,140 --> 00:26:29,140 I got you . 621 00:26:32,740 --> 00:26:34,870 Yeah , sorry about that . Okay . 622 00:26:34,880 --> 00:26:37,720 Meeting myself . Um any indication from 623 00:26:37,720 --> 00:26:39,800 the White House john when the budget 624 00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:42,460 will be released and this delay if it 625 00:26:42,460 --> 00:26:45,510 runs into late March april what does 626 00:26:45,510 --> 00:26:47,940 that delay mean for D . O . D . Thanks . 627 00:26:48,390 --> 00:26:51,330 It's actually A O . M . B . Is the 628 00:26:51,340 --> 00:26:53,396 right agency to talk to about this , 629 00:26:53,396 --> 00:26:55,451 Abraham in terms of timing . I don't 630 00:26:55,451 --> 00:26:57,980 have any indication right now what What 631 00:26:57,980 --> 00:27:00,160 budget release timeframe is gonna be . 632 00:27:00,170 --> 00:27:02,281 Um as you might imagine , we are hard 633 00:27:02,281 --> 00:27:05,420 at work on starting to build out the 23 634 00:27:05,420 --> 00:27:07,531 budget as you would expect . We would 635 00:27:07,531 --> 00:27:09,476 do after the holidays . That's the 636 00:27:09,476 --> 00:27:11,642 normal process . Um and we're going to 637 00:27:11,642 --> 00:27:13,476 continue to do that . The Deputy 638 00:27:13,476 --> 00:27:15,587 Secretary is leading that effort . Um 639 00:27:15,587 --> 00:27:17,642 and it's a very active effort as you 640 00:27:17,642 --> 00:27:17,370 might imagine . But in terms of 641 00:27:17,370 --> 00:27:19,730 specific timing , I just don't have it 642 00:27:19,730 --> 00:27:22,350 for you now to your second question . I 643 00:27:22,350 --> 00:27:24,461 mean , obviously in a perfect world , 644 00:27:24,461 --> 00:27:26,572 you always want to get that uh , that 645 00:27:26,572 --> 00:27:28,406 laid out as early in the year as 646 00:27:28,406 --> 00:27:30,220 possible um , to allow for the 647 00:27:30,220 --> 00:27:32,442 legislative process to continue so that 648 00:27:32,442 --> 00:27:35,430 you can get the funding on time . Um It 649 00:27:35,430 --> 00:27:38,800 was late last year , not uh lots of 650 00:27:38,800 --> 00:27:41,022 reasons and some of it being that , you 651 00:27:41,022 --> 00:27:42,911 know , I had a new administration 652 00:27:42,911 --> 00:27:45,022 coming in , um so we're going to keep 653 00:27:45,022 --> 00:27:48,130 working at it so that whenever um it's 654 00:27:48,130 --> 00:27:50,110 decided that that there's a budget 655 00:27:50,110 --> 00:27:52,110 release date that we're going to be 656 00:27:52,110 --> 00:27:54,054 ready for that uh to to execute as 657 00:27:54,054 --> 00:27:57,340 quickly as possible . Okay . Thanks 658 00:27:57,340 --> 00:27:59,560 everybody , appreciate it . Okay .