Happy Thursday and welcome to Overnight Defense. I’m Ellen Mitchell, 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: A bipartisan group of 489 former national security officials have endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Joe BidenJoe BidenPelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It ‘isn’t worth the paper it’s signed on’ Hillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns Fox News poll: Biden ahead of Trump in Nevada, Pennsylvania and Ohio MORE.

The group, National Security Leaders for Biden, said that President TrumpDonald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It ‘isn’t worth the paper it’s signed on’ Trump ‘no longer angry’ at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE “has demonstrated he is not equal to the enormous responsibilities of his office” and “cannot rise to meet challenges large or small.”

“Thanks to his disdainful attitude and his failures, our allies no longer trust or respect us, and our enemies no longer fear us,” the group wrote in a letter released Thursday.

Who signed the letter: Those who signed the letter include 22 retired four-star generals and numerous high-profile Republicans such as former Navy Secretary Sean O’Keefe and former CIA Director Michael Hayden.

The Republican officials — several of whom were part of the 70 former national security officials who signed on to a separate endorsement of Biden last month — have served under Trump as well as former Republican Presidents George W. Bush, George H.W. Bush and Reagan.

What they argue: They say Trump has little empathy, shrugs off responsibility and has allowed climate change and North Korea’s nuclear program to continue unabated.

Trump has also “ceded influence to a Russian adversary who puts bounties on the heads of American military personnel,” they write, referring to allegations that Trump selectively chose to ignore intelligence reports about Russian bounties placed on U.S. service members in the Middle East.

The bounty information was reportedly included in at least one of the president’s written briefings in February, though the president has dismissed the reports.

Boosting Biden: The group said on Thursday that they believe Biden “has the character, principles, wisdom, and leadership necessary to address a world on fire.”

Biden “has learned hard lessons and grown as a leader who can take positive action to unite and heal our country. It is unthinkable that he would ever utter the phrase ‘I don’t take responsibility at all,’ ” the group writes.

The group was referring to comments made by Trump in a recorded interview with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Bob Woodward, in which the president deflected blame for his administration’s sluggish ability to test Americans for the coronavirus.

Earlier…: The letter comes after an article in The Atlantic, which reported that Trump canceled a 2018 trip to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery near Paris, questioning whether it was necessary to visit a cemetery “filled with losers.”

Trump has denied the report.

40 GROUPS CALL ON HOUSE PANEL TO INVESTIGATE PENTAGON’S USE OF COVID FUNDS: A coalition of 40 organizations from across the political spectrum is calling for a congressional investigation into how the Pentagon used $1 billion in coronavirus relief funds.

In a letter to the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, the groups also urged lawmakers to consider passing a new bill to suspend the Department of Defense’s (DOD) authority to use the funding.

“We believe the Pentagon’s decision-making with these funds, as recently reported, violates congressional intent at minimum, and represents a significant breach of trust with the taxpayers who fund the military’s budget and its emergency spending,” the organizations wrote in the letter, obtained by The Hill ahead of its public release.

The letter was organized by progressive group Win Without War, the right-leaning National Taxpayers Union and the Project on Government Oversight.

What they said: “We believe that the select subcommittee should investigate when, how, and why the Pentagon decided that it could use these specific CARES Act funds in contravention of Congressional intent,” the letter said. “Any findings should be shared with the public to the maximum extent practicable. We would also ask that the select subcommittee consider recommending a rescission of DoD’s budget authority for this $1 billion fund in order to ensure Congress’s constitutional spending authority is not being violated.” 

Why this comes now: A subcommittee spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter, which comes after a Washington Post report Tuesday detailed how the Pentagon has used most of a $1 billion fund allocated by the CARES Act on defense contractors rather than medical supplies.

The DOD awarded contracts for jet engine parts, body armor and dress uniforms, among other military equipment, which critics argue is in contravention of the CARES Act stipulation that the funds be used to “prevent, prepare for and respond to coronavirus.”

The Pentagon’s response: The Pentagon has defended itself, arguing the money was never intended to be restricted to medical supplies, that it kept Congress fully informed of its plans and that helping the defense industrial bases through the pandemic is an appropriate response to the COVID-19 crisis.

“As indicated by recent reporting, there appears to be a misunderstanding by some about what the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES” Act) did and did not do with respect to the Department of Defense,” chief Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in a seven-paragraph statement Wednesday.

“The CARES Act did not limit — nor did it intend to limit in its language — the use of Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III to only medical resources,” he added. “As part of the efforts to mitigate economic damage, the act allowed monies to be spent to support individuals and industries that had been impacted by COVID. This is exactly what DOD has done.”

Renewed outrage: While the Post report provided new details on the exact contracts the Pentagon has awarded, the department notified Congress in late May it planned to use $688 million of the funding to shore up the defense industrial base. Several news outlets, including the Post itself, reported on the notification at the time.

Ellen Lord, under secretary of Defense for acquisition and sustainment, also testified before the House Armed Services Committee in June on plans to use funding on the defense industrial base (DIB).

Those disclosures prompted the House Appropriations Committee in July to write in a report accompanying the annual defense spending bill that “the committee’s expectation was that the department would address the need for PPE [personal protective equipment] industrial capacity rather than execute the funding for the DIB.”

Nonetheless, the Post report set off a new wave of outrage. On Tuesday, two House Democrats called for a congressional investigation into the issue.

“For the administration to choose to use funds Congress made available to fight COVID-19 on the wish lists of defense contractors, instead of first protecting troops and the general public from the spread of the coronavirus, is unconscionable and should be investigated fully and prosecuted if warranted,” Reps. Mark PocanMark William PocanOvernight Defense: Nearly 500 former national security officials formally back Biden | 40 groups call on House panel to investigate Pentagon’s use of coronavirus funds 40 groups call on House panel to investigate Pentagon’s use of coronavirus funds Overnight Defense: Pentagon redirects pandemic funding to defense contractors | US planning for full Afghanistan withdrawal by May | Anti-Trump GOP group puts ads in military papers MORE (D-Wis.) and Barbara LeeBarbara Jean LeeOvernight Defense: Nearly 500 former national security officials formally back Biden | 40 groups call on House panel to investigate Pentagon’s use of coronavirus funds 40 groups call on House panel to investigate Pentagon’s use of coronavirus funds Overnight Defense: Pentagon redirects pandemic funding to defense contractors | US planning for full Afghanistan withdrawal by May | Anti-Trump GOP group puts ads in military papers MORE (D-Calif.) wrote in a letter to several committee chairs Tuesday. 

ON TAP

Rep. Seth MoultonSeth MoultonOvernight Defense: Nearly 500 former national security officials formally back Biden | 40 groups call on House panel to investigate Pentagon’s use of coronavirus funds The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Markey defeats Kennedy; Trump lauds America’s enforcers in Wisconsin Moulton fends off primary challenges in Massachusetts MORE (D-Mass.), and; Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) will speak at a Brookings Institution webinar on “The Future of Defense Task Force’s Final Report: Reviewing the Nation’s Defense Assets and Capabilities,” at 10 a.m. https://www.brookings.edu/events/the-future-of-defense-task-forces-final-report-reviewing-the-nations-defense-assets-and-capabilities/?utm_source=Daily%20on%20Defense%20092420_09/24/2020&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=WEX_Daily%20on%20Defense&rid=78393

 

Approximately 70 World War II aircraft will fly over the Washington Mall in historically sequenced warbird formations representing the major World War II battles beginning at 

11:30 a.m. https://ww2flyover.org/?utm_source=Daily%20on%20Defense%20092420_09%2F24%2F2020&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=WEX_Daily%20on%20Defense&rid=78393

 

House Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark TakanoMark Allan TakanoOvernight Defense: Nearly 500 former national security officials formally back Biden | 40 groups call on House panel to investigate Pentagon’s use of coronavirus funds Congress missed the point when it came to helping veterans During Suicide Prevention Month, Trump needs to do more for troops’ mental health MORE (D-Calif.), retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Linnington, CEO of the Wounded Warrior Project, and Jen Silvan, chief program officer at the Wounded Warrior Project, will speak at a Brookings Institution webinar on “The Policy Needs of America’s Veterans,” at 2 p.m. https://www.brookings.edu/events/the-policy-needs-of-americas-veterans/?utm_source=Daily%20on%20Defense%20092420_09/24/2020&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=WEX_Daily%20on%20Defense&rid=78393

 

ICYMI

– The Hill: Trump nominates former Nunes aide to serve as intel community inspector general

– The Hill: FBI director warns that Chinese hackers are still targeting US COVID-19 research

– The Hill: Democrats call for declassifying election threats after briefing by Trump officials

– The Hill: South Korea says missing official was killed by North Korean troops

– Stars and Stripes: Gen. Milley: Military services working to remove all identifying information from promotions processes

– The Associated Press: Charges dismissed against man accused of mailing explosives to military, government facilities

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A Montana man who filed this week to run as a Green Party candidate against Sen. Jon TesterJonathan (Jon) TesterSenate confirms Trump’s watchdog for coronavirus funds Montana barrels toward blockbuster Senate fight The 10 Senate seats most likely to flip MORE (D-Mont.) was previously being paid by the state Republican Party, according to a new report.

Green Party hopeful Timothy Adams was paid by the Montana Republican State Central Committee from October 2013 through May 2015, according to documents reviewed by The Associated Press. Adams’s role within the party was not clear.

Tester, whose state backed President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE by 20 points in 2016, is considered a vulnerable senator on the ballot in November. A bid from a third party candidate like Adams would raise the prospect of splitting the vote.

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Adams filed to run in a 2012 state House election as a Libertarian, but ultimately withdrew from that race.

Danielle Breck, the coordinator of Montana’s Green Party, told the AP that one other person filed to run on the Green Party line in this year’s U.S. Senate race, setting up a primary race.

Multiple Republicans, including State Auditor Matt Rosendale and businessman Troy Downing, have also filed to challenge Tester. 

In Montana’s 2012 U.S. Senate race, Libertarian candidate Dan Cox received nearly 32,000 votes in an election where Tester defeated his Republican challenger by roughly 18,000 votes.

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The nation’s top conservative donors and fundraisers are increasingly alarmed by the prospect of a midterm election wave that could cost Republicans control of the House.

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But the party’s deep-pocketed donors aren’t ready to abandon their efforts to keep the House in GOP hands — not yet at least. 

More than a half-dozen senior Republican donors and fundraisers interviewed by The Hill acknowledged that protecting the Senate majority might at some point become the only sensible investment for Republican donors.

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There is growing frustration among donors with the GOP-controlled House — most recently over the passage of a massive budget that donors are describing as an affront to their fiscally conservative principles.

But for now, the party’s moneyed class believes the House majority will hinge on just a handful of races. Donors are moving ahead as if their dollars could be the determining factor in whether Republicans maintain a majority.

Democrats need a net gain of 24 seats to win back the House.

“Myself and many others are very concerned that this could be a wave year for the Democratic Party and for their candidates,” said Art Pope, a North Carolina businessman and top GOP donor.

“But I still think the House will be closely contested, and whether there’s a Republican or Democratic majority could depend on one or two seats,” Pope said. “That means right now, every seat in the House is just as significant as any seat in the Senate.”

From Denver to Dallas and Chicago to Raleigh, N.C., Republican donors are being hit with polling that shows the Democrats with a double-digit lead in the generic House ballot. 

There is concern about the growing number of GOP lawmaker retirements. Some are blaming President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE for the advantage Democrats have in enthusiasm, believing the president will be a drag on Republican candidates in the midterms.

And history will be against the Republicans, as the party in power tends to lose seats during a president’s first midterm cycle.

“There are only two ways for a Republican candidate to run: unopposed or scared,” said Chart Westcott, a conservative donor and biotechnology investor from Dallas. “The energy is there on the left. If you’re not seeing it, it’s because your head is in the sand.”

Donors interviewed by The Hill acknowledged the bleak outlook but insisted there is still time for the party to turn it around, pointing to polls that show the public is warming to the GOP’s tax overhaul.

They believe the prospect of House Minority Leader Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiTrump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names Black lawmakers unveil bill to remove Confederate statues from Capitol Pelosi: Georgia primary ‘disgrace’ could preview an election debacle in November MORE (D-Calif.) becoming Speaker will send conservative voters to the polls in droves.

And some say the panic over the GOP’s electoral prospects in 2018 has spurred a bunker mentality among GOP donors, who are — at least for now — rallying to protect the president from a Democratic-controlled House.

Some pointed to the GOP’s fortunes in the Senate, where 10 Democrats are seeking reelection in states that Trump carried in 2016, arguing that donors view the House as a luxury they can afford to fight for because of the tough map Democrats face in the upper chamber.

“It’s challenging. When you look at the historical trends, it could be tough to keep the House,” said Brian Ballard, a Republican National Committee fundraiser and former lobbyist for the Trump Organization. 

“But the Senate map looks so good for us right now, it’s freeing up money for those who have maxed out to the Senate to do more to protect the House. That’s been the mentality of a lot of folks that I’m talking to. They know that if the Democrats take the House they’ll be looking to bury the president with investigations.”

Still, tough decisions lie ahead.

If the fundamentals don’t turn toward the GOP as Election Day nears, some donors say the party may have to decide if the House is worth defending.

“There’s a good chance we’re not going to have both chambers again,” said Chris Wright, a conservative donor and oil industry executive from Colorado. “If you can only have one, you’d rather have the Senate because the judiciary matters are key. We’ve got to keep confirming conservative justices, and that means keeping the Senate.”

The network of groups run by billionaire conservative donors Charles and David Koch has pledged to spend up to $400 million on politics and policy during the 2018 midterms, including up to $20 million on promoting the GOP tax overhaul.

The network declined to break down how much would go toward the House and how much toward the Senate. But the early ad buys have focused on attacking Democratic incumbents in the Senate running in red states.

Americans for Prosperity, a Koch-backed group, has already spent about $8.5 million on ads attacking Sens. Joe DonnellyJoseph (Joe) Simon DonnellyEx-Sen. Joe Donnelly endorses Biden Lobbying world 70 former senators propose bipartisan caucus for incumbents MORE (D-Ind.), Claire McCaskillClaire Conner McCaskillMissouri county issues travel advisory for Lake of the Ozarks after Memorial Day parties Senate faces protracted floor fight over judges amid pandemic safety concerns Amash on eyeing presidential bid: ‘Millions of Americans’ want someone other than Trump, Biden MORE (D-Mo.) and Heidi HeitkampMary (Heidi) Kathryn Heitkamp70 former senators propose bipartisan caucus for incumbents Susan Collins set to play pivotal role in impeachment drama Pro-trade group launches media buy as Trump and Democrats near deal on new NAFTA MORE (D-N.D.) for voting against the GOP tax bill, making up nearly half of the pledged spending total allotted for the tax push. All three senators are considered top targets for Republicans.

A representative for the group acknowledged that the splashy ad buys had been focused on the competitive Senate races in the early going, but said that millions more would be pumped into initiatives that will benefit down-ballot candidates through grass-roots initiatives happening on the ground that don’t get as much attention.

But some individual donors are already looking to hedge their bets, encouraging donors to be more strategic by considering opportunities to drag a specific House candidate across the finish line, rather than showering the national party with cash.

“I’m going to be judicious in picking the horses myself,” said John DeBlasio, a Chicago-based investor. “In elections like this, you vote where you can make a difference on good candidates that can rise above the noise.”

That lesson is especially salient for GOP donors after Republican state Rep. Rick Saccone lost to Democrat Conor Lamb in a special election in Pennsylvania’s 18th District earlier this month, even though Trump carried the district by 20 points only 14 months ago.

DeBlasio singled out Rep. Pete Roskam (Ill.), a moderate Republican representing a district in Chicago’s northwest suburbs that Democratic presidential nominee Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonWhite House accuses Biden of pushing ‘conspiracy theories’ with Trump election claim Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton qualifies to run for county commissioner in Florida MORE carried by 7 points in 2016, as a candidate he’ll be investing in.

Of course, the national party and House GOP campaign arm will not lack for funds.

The Republican National Committee is a fundraising juggernaut and Speaker Paul RyanPaul Davis RyanBush, Romney won’t support Trump reelection: NYT Twitter joins Democrats to boost mail-in voting — here’s why Lobbying world MORE (R-Wis.) is raising tens of millions of dollars for his caucus.

Still, Republicans have been alarmed by data in recent months showing nearly two-dozen House Democratic challengers outraising GOP incumbents in competitive districts.

“Money has never been a problem for our party and I don’t think it will be for this cycle either, although we could be outgunned in some places, which is unusual,” said Westcott, the Dallas businessman. “But it’s foolish to cede the House. You have to defend every seat and every district. Folks will be looking to get the most bang for their buck, but I don’t think anyone is saying we shouldn’t fight this battle.”

–This report was updated at 8:26 a.m.

A coalition of progressive groups is launching a new, $30 million initiative aimed at winning key races in Florida, Michigan and Nevada.  

The joint effort comes from Planned Parenthood Votes, Center for Community Change Action, Color of Chance PAC and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

The groups are banding together to launch a program called Win Justice that will work to mobilize voters who tend to avoid midterms, with a particular focus on encouraging young voters, women and people of color to head to the polls.

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“2018 is going to be a year of reckoning for the billionaires and politicians who have spent decades trying to weaken the power of working people,” SEIU International President Mary Kay Henry said in a press release.

“We are going to change the face of the electorate in Florida, Michigan and Nevada from the ground up by mobilizing a diverse movement that includes people of color, women and young people to build a lasting coalition for change.”

The effort will focus on Senate, gubernatorial and several down-ticket races.

The groups, along with local partners, aim to reach a total of 2.5 million voters in the three states. The Win Justice program plans to engage voters through texting, digital organizing and helping train community leaders to knock on doors, according to the release.

Florida and Nevada are expected to have contentious Senate races. Sen. Bill NelsonClarence (Bill) William NelsonNASA, SpaceX and the private-public partnership that caused the flight of the Crew Dragon Lobbying world The most expensive congressional races of the last decade MORE (D-Fla.) is fighting to keep his seat in a state President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE won. He hopes to fend off Gov. Rick Scott (R), who will likely give Nelson his toughest fight yet.

Sen. Dean HellerDean Arthur HellerOn The Trail: Democrats plan to hammer Trump on Social Security, Medicare Lobbying World Democrats spend big to put Senate in play MORE (R-Nev.) is one of the most vulnerable Republicans up for reelection, and is the only GOP senator defending a seat in a state Democratic presidential nominee Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonWhite House accuses Biden of pushing ‘conspiracy theories’ with Trump election claim Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton qualifies to run for county commissioner in Florida MORE won in 2016.

Sen. Debbie StabenowDeborah (Debbie) Ann StabenowSheldon Whitehouse leads Democrats into battle against Trump judiciary Bill aims to help farmers sell carbon credits Senate Democrats pump brakes on new stimulus checks MORE, a Democrat, is up for re-election in Michigan, a state Trump won.

All three states have open governor’s races that are expected to be contentious, as well as some competitive down-ballot races.

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