Back the National Defense authorization act as the defense policy bill seen on the hill is the best passed bill especially this is how much we will pay members of the military how many planes, ships, guns will buy, buy, and includes policies with overseas exercises. Its the pool that sets the next five years of military planning is something that is seen that they need to get done every year is a big enterprise every year and that prize the congressional leadership this year might be a little bit tricky we will see what happens there is confidence every year this is a bill at the end of the day they will come together to make sure it goes tough. Host there are two different versions how far apart are they quick. We just went through the conferencing process so essentially now we know there is one version that they came together to make agreements. With a Republican Senate and Democratic House there were issues of contention but the leadershipe of the house and Senate Armed Services committee were very clear to say we know the s election this is to politically challenging and charged to get the issues right now. They kicked us after and then two weeks later now we havent agreement. It says those social media protections section 230 that the president tweeted about. What is the president calling for hes threatening a veto. This is the second veto threat he went about the policy bill. First with the name for confederate generals. So section 230 came out of nowhere and something has been talked about for a while. Section 230 allows at the most basic social Media Companies are not liable legally for staff put out by users of the product. If services i will do this crime and there is a lot of things in republican circles this allows biased speech and talked about going after it moreer people talk about of this is a pill then he would be liable for the election might im action. Gret the and then to first it in the last couple of days as that the those basically agreed to. And then the close ally of troops he even said i want to repeal section 230. Done buto get it this is not the place to do it. We have seen a lot in the past with you dont want to load it up because of the mass on the bill that the Defense Committee has spent time to fight that off to keep it purely defense focused as possible. This is not the place for section 230 and we have to see now if the president follows through the veto threat. On the earlier objtion to the confederate monuments, excuse me naming bases after conderate generals. What is the final langge in the bill say . We havent seen that we just finished the conference ceyesterday but bas on the reporting we have seen its most likely the army is given a threeyear period to study they issue. And then the final say of what it looks like. There is different from so languagege and the other the goal here joe biden issuing the executive o order and then with the bidenen administration. But congress wanted to put his foot down and both chambers of both parties it is time to change t names of the other alternatives but through slower process instead of the executive action. Deputy editor and Senior Pentagon crespondent for defense. Welcome your comments. Yesterday the chair and Ranking Member ofhe the Armed Services committee released a Statement Part of which says 459 straight years the daa has passed because members of congress and president s of both parties have set aside their own policy objectives and partisan prerences to veto personnel in American Security first the time is come to do that again. It is late in the day for this to pass . Is not ideal but not a typical. We see a lot of up to the wire in the past. Certainly with those funding bills passed on the separation side. The nda a is that theua members take great pride in saying the National Security of United States of america we can work our issues out and come together at the end of the day and make thiss happen. And the Ranking Member on the house Armed Services Committee Chairman is retiring. Certainly you cannot let this be the first one that doesnt get through on his last time. Is the area on the hill with the most agreement, most bipartisanship in the yes there is disagreement and policies but at the end of the day they will come together toe get it through. Host this is the defense policy bill so in the current fiscal year 2020 and one 2021 what funding does thist optimize . Talk about the billion for defense spending and then other agencies get parts of that. It seems like troop levels and pay raise for members of the military through the details of how many fighters to you by. It is the allencompassing standard bill. The legacies is the establishment of no space first. How muchh money does this auauthorize and the policy changes in the bill quick. We have to see the final numbers probing pect to increase which is on the path t expected. D then to add more people and graduated classes but also the budget will increase. In terms of policy it is terms every organization. And there are space offes and then to say that both the offices er here what a way bring them into space worse and where to ship the money . And those are a lot of bureaucracy they did they get great reviews but talking to people they understand the bureaucracy to standp the military service. Thats whawe see with regards to that branch of the military thats what we see with regards to that branch of the military just thomas says he should veto not just for the nonsensil reason but oppose were funding fo endless wars and indefinite detention without charge or trial and with the militaryindustrial complex. He is not vetoed a single mda a if he we to. Thats a separate couple of things. And then smith said he thinks trump would be foolish in both chambers to pass the bill as the veto override. And then they have to go back and rework a something. Am i got level seeking the repeal of 230 there other legislative ways to do that. The fact that speaker proceed and leader mcconnell have agreed to bring the nda aid to a vote because mcconnell is famous for not paying things to an actual vote. But then republicans get the 230 repeal elsewhere . That said theres one thing weve learned the last four years the president prides himself on unpredictability pms swift watch very closely what happens the next couple of weeks. Good morning joe. Caller good morning. That politicalization is stuff that has been politicized before. And then with the judiciary within this is but a before. What do you think about that . The question of politicalization in the military has been an issue throughout the Trump Administration raised by expert experts, particularly those that study military affairs. Military is a civilian controlled organization. Peoplele question if they are the a acting capacity, are they being willing to buy the white house or on policy issues with uniforms . Officials . What you will see with the next secretary of defense and that is a separate issue, there is an effort to reassert control inside the building it up to the white house. The military should not be used in should not go to sign a policy bill. We saw with the Lafayette Square situation in june. There was a lot of rollback time to sayd the military should not have been there that was a mistake and we regret that. The next secretary of state who are the leading candidates quick. We thought it was oclock for a former undersecretary of defense for policy and then for the secretary of defense in 2016 and a very well respected by republicans and democrats. Because she is wellliked by both parties and well respected as well. However the last couple weeks with jay johnson former head of obama and also the lead for repealing the dont ask dont tell policy, his name has floated up as a popular contender the other name last weeko retired army general former head of Us Central Command through 2016. But austin requires if you are active in the last seven years you have a waiver from the full majority to make it happen. Thats a tricky proposition given the current makeup of those who dont refer to administration and throw them a bone or the democrats may say where we puttingy in those words in the middle east where she essentially ran. It would beng interesting but the fact is that is very traditional from the secretary place and put in the secretary of defense within hours of the pentagon working but especially given the georgia political run off the windows of those i can tell early january carefully. Host Senior Pentagon correspondent cap next from minneapolis welcom caller. Heard last night president is reay hollowing out the pentagon is much as hean to t in any of political appointments ilude see one including the isys task force. Can anything be done to stop this is it just to take me the information in the Biden Administration could be getting . And just to t make it more difficult . Thank you. Yes. With a significant wave of departures the most clearcut when marcus perry wears fire then onen day later the undersecretary of intelligence essentially one to below is also forced out with staffnd replaced by people that were seen as trump the list. And the that make friend diedn, anher who has been placed in t pentagon for the policy jobs. And thehief of staff who is a aid in the big republican attack dog on the russian probe you see peoe who are very well to the president very little they are the commanderinchief and has the right to fire and higher as he wishes with they will be gone comed january 20th but th situion where thatsard to fire and then happening in the administration there is a theory therump administration is doing more than others but i havent seen that to back it up but it is something people are tracking. 40 percent of those jobs are currently filled the acting on performing the duties of but that is not a deal because it with a full Senate Confirmed person and also you dont have as much juice side the building which is a bureaucracy so to the advocate for your officthe way you showed. Is a highly unusual number of those that were confirmed by the senate. This is a problem going back to the Trump Administration they struggled getti nominees into the pentagon just to beo to send the names to thelarl senate. And then the president s of the will nominate the person and then three months later said what iwas supposed to do with the paperwork . And then assess the situation we are in. On the military line good morning. Ro caller how are you doing the country needs the draft but if you te two people in a foxhole they were well. One another. The military teaches us that. Thats another thing about our country were so quick to vote for people and theto voton issues and not on people that ive got to say. And then during the pandemic. They were skilled potions like certechnology and frankly was the competition for those skills and then the military tries to change s that. And then to be excellent riflemen. And then there has been starts andd stops but there has been big issue the last couple of decade but now with the economy being what it is in the airline struggling, it was a higher rate of retention then we have seen in decades. I have a job and im secure and i wi sign up for another tour. I was sn elsewhere in terms of retention but it is interesting. There has been talk of the national serce. The congressionally directed commison of the draft for public service. Host you are breaking up a littlele bit. We are trying to get you back here as we made a headline from the washingtonn times. With that modicum of success has been achieved. He is what the general had to say yesterday at the brookings institution. And National Decisions to reduce the military footprint down at 250000 soldiers. President trump made that decision we e the process of executing rightno now and that is with the new administratn we will find that out on the 20h of januarynd beyond out of plan we are executing is 2500 troops by january 15. That is in 15tof support of so n iraq but then to be trained with the Iraqi Military we think that is an important thing to do and to contribute toward the interdictingnd we also think that is important with the defea of the is caliphate. And then to at 2501 and for all those decisions after that come from the next administration. Host ask you to look forward into the Biden Administration. And their potential plans for iraq and afghanistan . I think one thing that has happened t in the maybe it is time to consider the middle east plan to change in some way but talk about are raising china. And then to take its eye off theot ball. And then for the Biden Administration to say that is a bipartisan issue in the Biden Administration has to consider safety and stability if not there the movie at the terrorist haven. And the 25th of june soldier figure was a number that was agreed upon with the pentagon and the white house. They wanted to so forces but these numbers can be tricky. And those large numbers of persons in kuwait have to keep an eye on this and see the actualct members of interesting to come in right away but its hard to believe they will not increase has something ove the next fourer years. Persons are policy below to determine policy for the pentagon how much as we does congress have to determine true numbers overseas m . Troop movement is controlled by the commanderinchief not congress byno law. Congress put and box one blocks that will cut spending here to confirm that. And he can do that if there is not legal obligation but congress over the last 11 and to the use of military force in a position to force and allow the executive to take charge. You in the military will say we need to take my hand on this. Is interesting to see if there is a Sport Congress Going Forward what that looks like. Chandler Arizona Democratic line youre on the year. Caller good morning. And those defense killings to surveyussia andhina and if the trump administratio to take those planes out of action where does that money go . Yes he was checking about is 135 that is the and skies treaty the agreement from a couple weeks ago. And for those to do surveillance over the territory. And then to be looked at on the plane and the armscontrol verification and fast mechanism. After the Trump Administration to the were getting a thought of it but then to get not enough information because of the satellite systems but a good for spelling mechanism with european nations rely onn it because of the satellite systems but a good for spelling mechanism with european nations rely on it so they are of the would be a sign you cannot go back in but then they push back to say we still dont have an active plan to scrap these things. Even if the plans are still active them to jump into the open skies treaty legally it is disagreed upon in some say they have left in the illegal way so thats an easy way for joe biden to get back w in. Person regardless so has to worry and to be ratified that is very unlikely it is to be there. And then thats a share but now with the air force base. Defense news. Com for the latest on the story you thank you for being with us this morning