Biden to make first Pentagon visit as president

President Biden is set to visit the Pentagon on Wednesday in his first official visit to the complex as commander in chief, according to the Defense Department’s top spokesperson.

Biden will meet with senior civilian and uniformed leaders at the Pentagon to “talk about foreign and defense policy issues, as appropriate,” spokesman John Kirby told reporters Monday.

The president will also have an opportunity to speak directly to the Defense Department workforce, Kirby added.

Kirby could not say whether Biden or Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin would brief reporters following the meeting, referring those questions to the White House. 

The visit comes as the Biden administration has inherited a host of defense issues including the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan, tensions with Iran, rampant and persistent sexual assault and harassment cases in the ranks, rooting out extremism among service members and a military stretched thin by the COVID-19 pandemic on top of regular service.

Biden was also hobbled during his transition efforts in December and January after senior appointees at the Pentagon put in place by former President Trump offered limited cooperation with the incoming administration.