Happy Friday and welcome to Overnight Defense. I’m Rebecca Kheel, and here’s your nightly guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. CLICK HERE to subscribe to the newsletter.
THE TOPLINE: Former Navy Secretary Kenneth Braithwaite was in the job for just eight months during the Trump administration, but reportedly spent about $2.4 million on air travel for 22 trips.
USA TODAY reported that Braithwaite, who was sworn in last May and resigned when President Biden took office on January 21, traveled to more foreign and domestic locations than any other senior Pentagon civilian amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
By comparison: Other service secretaries took fewer trips in the same period, with then-Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy embarking on 17 trips that cost roughly $900,000 and then-Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett traveling to 19 destinations for a total $1.6 million, according to spokespeople from each service.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark Milley, meanwhile, took four trips in that time frame, and then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper and his successor, acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller, took a combined 15 trips.
Where did he go?: Among Braithwaite’s trips was a $232,000 excursion in January to the South Pacific’s Wake Island to record a farewell message to the Navy and Marine Corps.
The island is essentially a refueling stop and emergency landing strip thousands of miles from Hawaii where no sailors or Marines are stationed, Navy spokesman Capt. Jereal Dorsey told the outlet.
Braithwaite also flew to Norway, Italy, Greece, Japan and India, as well as several trips to Hawaii and a more than $24,000 flight to attend the Army-Navy football game with his family.
Braithwaite’s response: Braithwaite defended his travels in a statement to USA Today, claiming they were necessary to strengthen the Navy after recent crises, likely alluding to the scandal surrounding the coronavirus outbreak aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier.
“I am extremely proud of the record of accomplishments of Our Sailors and Marines during my tenure as Secretary, especially following such a tumultuous chapter in the Navy’s recent history of crisis following crisis as compared to our other services,” Braithwaite wrote. “I submit it’s impossible to lead men and women deployed around the world from behind a desk in Washington.”
Braithwaite added that he believes his trips “left the Navy and the Marine Corps better positioned to respond to our nation’s defense today and tomorrow.”
NOTABLE HEARINGS NEXT WEEK
The House Oversight Committee announced Friday it will hold a hearing Wednesday on “Unexplained Delays and Unanswered Questions” from the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.
Of particular interest for defense watchers, former acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller is slated to be one of the witnesses.
Miller has previously blamed former President Trump for the attack. Questions have also been raised about Miller’s own role in the delayed response from the National Guard, particularly after the March testimony from then-D.C. National Guard commanding general Maj. Gen. William Walker. All that adds up to potentially interesting testimony next week.
Noms, noms, noms: Also for your planner next week, the Senate Armed Services Committee will start chipping away at the more than 20 nominations it has pending before it, just like Chairman Jack Reed (D-R.I.) said it would prioritize doing in May.
First up on Tuesday, the committee will hear from Pentagon comptroller nominee Michael McCord and Ronald Moultrie, the nominee to be under secretary of Defense for intelligence and security.
Then on Thursday, the panel will hear from Christine Wormuth, the nominee to be Army secretary, who would be the first woman to hold the job if she’s confirmed.
MORE FOR YOUR CALENDAR
The U.S. Military Academy at West Point announced Friday that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will be its commencement speaker.
The ceremony is slated for May 22. Of note, Austin himself is a West Point grad from 1975.
Friday’s announcement fills in the slate of this year’s military academy commencement speakers after Biden was announced for the Coast Guard Academy, Vice President Harris was announced for the Naval Academy and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley was announced for the Air Force Academy.
ON TAP FOR MONDAY
Acting Army Secretary John Whitley and Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville will speak at an online Atlantic Council event at 1 p.m. https://bit.ly/2Sv2ETf
ICYMI
— The Hill: Lawmakers push for increased cybersecurity funds in annual appropriations
— The Hill: Biden ‘confident’ meeting with Putin will take place soon
— The Hill: US general warns China is actively seeking to set up an Atlantic naval base
— Foreign Policy: China is building entire villages in another country’s territory
— New York Times: Russian spy team left traces that bolstered CIA’s bounty judgment
— Wall Street Journal: European allies ask US to slow Afghan withdrawal, officials say
— Defense One: At House hearing, defense appropriators discuss everything but the budget