Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Monday (Feb. 1) the firing of hundreds of members of Pentagon advisory committees, a move expected to affect a series of appointees made in the final days of the former Trump administration.
Austin said in the memo that all members of the Pentagon’s 31 advisory committees will be fired effective Feb. 16; at the same Time, the memo also lists 40 advisory committees that will undergo a “zero-based review,” meaning the Defense Department will conduct an in-depth operational review of each of the sponsored advisory committees. Each sponsored advisory board will be subject to an in-depth business case investigation and will be required to show proof of continued operation or face dissolution or dismissal of its members.
The deadline for DoD to complete a “zero-based review” of each committee ranges from Feb. 26 to April 30, according to the memo.
Austin said, “This is an interim step, and I am directing that all advisory committees be suspended immediately until the review is completed, unless otherwise directed by myself or the Under Secretary of Defense.”
Austin explained that the move does not affect advisory board members appointed by Congress or the president, only advisory board members appointed by the secretary of defense, or civilian, or military leaders of the armed services. It also does not affect advisory committees governed by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).
However, this directive will apply to nominees who are still in the security clearance process.
The Trump Administration had appointed dozens of advisory board members in the final days of the administration. Those affected are expected to include Corey Lewandowski, his 2016 campaign manager of choice, and David Bossie, his deputy campaign manager, both of whom were appointed to the Defense Business Council.
At least two Trump advisers are unaffected, including former White House senior adviser Kellyanne Conway, who was appointed to the Air Force Academy Board of Visitors, and former White House spokesman Sean Spicer, who was appointed to the Naval Academy Board of Visitors.
Officials said the academy board positions are outside the scope of DoD’s actions.
Austin noted, “Advisory committees play an important role in shaping public policy within (the Defense Department). But our stewardship responsibilities require us to continually evaluate to ensure that each advisory committee provides appropriate value today and in the future, as time and needs change.”
DOD advisory committees date back to at least the 1950s and were designed to be bipartisan and to provide input to Pentagon leaders on possible policies. Although advisory board members are not Pentagon employees, they hold coveted positions and have some influence over DoD leadership.
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