THE TOPLINE: In his first testimony on Capitol Hill since stepping down in 2011, former Defense Secretary Robert Gates slammed Congress on Wednesday for the way it has approached budgeting over the last decade – and this year in particular.
Gates waded into a fight between President Obama and congressional Republicans over this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Obama has threatened to veto the bill because it adds $38 billion to a war fund not subject to budget caps.
Obama argues that it irresponsibly skirts budget caps and wants lawmakers to lift them on spending across the board. Defense Secretary Ash Carter has said he agrees with Obama and encourages a veto.
{mosads}Gates though said he would take the money if he were still in charge regardless of which fund it’s in. Gates agreed putting the money in the war fund is a “gimmick” and a “terrible way to budget.” But he said he doesn’t see an alternative way at this point to get the funding the Defense Department needs.
Gates was testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee to provide his suggestions for reforming the Defense Department and cut waste. Reforms won’t be effective, Gates said, unless Congress returns to a normal budgeting process.
In the last decade, an appropriations bill has only passed by the beginning of the fiscal year twice, Gates said.
Starting the year on a continuing resolution actually costs the department money, he said. The same goes for sequestration and government shutdowns, he added.
That’s because, he said, programs can’t be started on schedule, savings can’t be found by making multi-year purchases and man-hours have to be spent to plan for the uncertainties.
PENTAGON PREPS FOR ‘NEXT PHASE’ IN ISIS FIGHT: The U.S.-led military coalition against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS or ISIL) expects to begin a “new phase” in the near future in Syria led by rebel groups it is supporting, the coalition’s spokesman said Wednesday.
“The next phase is about to start here sometime in the near future, ” Army Col. Steve Warren said. “And I believe what you’re going to see is Syrian Arabs bringing additional and renewed pressure on ISIL in the vicinity of Raqqa. And it’s going to be because of the ammunition that we gave them.”
About a week ago, the U.S. airdropped about 50 tons of ammunition to the so-called “Syrian Arab Coalition,” a contingent of about a dozen rebel groups with vetted leaders that have worked with the United States in the past.
Warren said the coalition was “very confident” the ammunition has been distributed, but added that it has also asked the groups’ leaders to send pictures or some kind of proof.
Under the recently scuttled U.S. train and equip program, some of the equipment provided by the United States was handed over to al Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria, the al Nusra Front.
Warren said the coalition would continue to work with the Peshmerga, as in the offensive to take back Kobani, but said it was unknown whether they would move south into Arab-controlled areas.
“Whether or not Kurdish fighters are willing to move that far south, frankly, is an unknown at this point,” he said. “But we do know that Syrian Arabs are ready. They’re willing. And now that we’ve given them ammunition, [they are] able to conduct operations and place pressure on Raqqa.”
REPUBLICANS PRESS REFUGEE VETTING: Republican lawmakers are pushing the administration on its vetting of Syrian refugees amid plans to increase the number accepted into the United States each year.
Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.) sent a letter Wednesday to Secretary of State John Kerry and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson warning that fighters with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) could try to sneak into the U.S. disguised as refugees.
“We must be aware that groups like ISIS will infiltrate refugee camps and try to seek admittance into the United States. As you move forward with the process of admitting more refugees into this country, it is critical that rigorous background checks and security measures are in place,” they wrote.
The two lawmakers added that while the United States “is a compassionate country and has a role to play… we must also ensure that our national security is not compromised in this process.”
Democrats have largely backed President Obama’s push to accept more refugees while acknowledging that the State Department would need additional funding to help process and vet applicants. Republicans have raised questions about the administration’s ability to vet an increasing number of refugees.
Lankford and Forbes suggested in their letter that as the administration accepts more refugees it should prioritize religious minorities, such as the Yazidis, that have been targeted by ISIS.
US MARINE PILOT DIES IN F-18 CRASH: A U.S. Marine pilot died in an F-18 crash Wednesday near a United Kingdom air force base, according to U.S. and British authorities.
The combat jet crashed around 10:30 a.m. local time near Royal Air Force Lakenheath in England, according to the U.S. Marine Corps.
The cause of the crash is unknown, as is whether the pilot ejected prior to the crash.
The aircraft, belonging to a squadron stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California, was returning to the U.S. from Bahrain.
Five other F-18s were diverted to another military airfield in Scotland, according to U.S. officials.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the pilot,” the U.S. Marines said in a statement.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
— Iran’s supreme leader backs nuclear deal
— FBI: Fewer Americans leaving to join ISIS
— Poll: Fewer think fight against ISIS going well
— Senate Dems press Kerry on Iran missile test
— Dems want RNC to pay for Benghazi committee
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