President TrumpDonald John TrumpWarren: I feel ‘deep down fury’ that Trump downplayed pandemic NYT reporter removed from Trump rally in Michigan Trump says he didn’t share classified information following Woodward book MORE has an explanation for the new revelations that he purposely downplayed the risks of coronavirus: He says he didn’t want to cause panic.

Experts say Trump had another option: He could have calmly, but accurately, explained to Americans the risks associated with the outbreak and what they could do to lessen the danger.

Excerpts released this week from famed journalist Bob Woodward’s upcoming book, “Rage,” have raised questions about whether more lives could have been saved if Trump had, early in the pandemic, shared with Americans all the information about coronavirus he himself had.

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The preview of the book released Wednesday included tape of Trump telling Woodward in March: “I wanted to always play it down. I still like playing it down, because I don’t want to create a panic.”

In a separate interview in early February, Trump said: “It’s also more deadly than even your strenuous flus.”

That was a stark contrast to Trump’s public statements at the time downplaying the virus and explicitly comparing it to the flu.   

Asked on Wednesday if he had misled the public, Trump replied: “I think if you said ‘in order to reduce panic,’ perhaps that’s so.”

But public health experts say there was a middle ground between inaccurately downplaying the virus and causing panic, that Trump could have taken: accurately presenting information on the risks of the virus, while telling people what the government is doing to fight the threat and what people can do themselves. 

“People are smart and pretty resilient,” said Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association. “If you tell them what’s going on, you can do it in a way that doesn’t panic them.”

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Bill Hanage, an epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, wrote on Twitter that the best way to minimize panic is to “honestly present the reality of the situation and reassure people that you are working to control it and minimize the fallout.”

“Failing to prepare for a real threat is not responsible,” he added. “Playing down a real risk that you *know* is real is not preventing panic. It’s negligence.”

Trump, however, has continued to downplay the threat of the virus at times even months into the pandemic. 

“This thing is going away,” Trump said on “Fox & Friends” last month. 

He is holding rallies in front of large crowds of people, many of them without masks, and rarely wears a mask himself. At one such rally last week, he even mocked his opponent, Joe BidenJoe BidenHarris calls it ‘outrageous’ Trump downplayed coronavirus Historian predicts Trump downplaying pandemic will go down as ‘the greatest dereliction of duty’ in presidential history Overnight Defense: Trump announces new US ambassador to Afghanistan | Pentagon officially withdraws plan to end ‘Stars and Stripes’ | Biden says Trump doesn’t understand national security, intel officials ‘don’t trust’ him MORE, for wearing a face covering.

“Did you ever see a man that likes a mask as much as him?” Trump said of Biden, while also saying he is “all for” wearing masks.

On the policy side, too, the Trump administration took heavy fire from experts for issuing new testing guidelines last month that recommended cutting back on testing of asymptomatic people, unless they are a “vulnerable individual” or a local health official recommends it. 

In the early days of the pandemic, even public health experts sometimes made mistakes, for example initially recommending against wearing masks, something that was later shown to be a crucial tool in slowing the spread of the virus.  

But by early April, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was recommending that people wear masks, something that Trump continued to resist for months. He was not pictured wearing one until July, and has now returned to not wearing one. 

If Trump had issued warnings about the virus sooner, Benjamin said, “more people would have worn masks, more people would have been social-distanced, more people would have taken the threat more seriously.”

“I have to believe less people would have been sick,” he added.

Trump continues to strike an optimistic tone, in particular by pointing to progress on a vaccine, though it remains unclear exactly when one will be ready. 

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“You’ll see very soon, with vaccines and with therapeutics, the job we’ve done has been incredible,” Trump said Wednesday. 

He also points to his early ban on travel from China, at the end of January, while placing blame on the country for allowing the virus to originate and spread there. 

“We shouldn’t have lost anybody,” Trump said. “It came out of China. It went to Europe. It went all over the world.  It should have never happened.”

He added, though, that “we had to show calm.”

Howard Koh, a former assistant secretary for health in the Obama administration, said “confronting the hard facts as unpleasant as they may be” is a key part of public health messaging, along with giving health experts a platform. 

The CDC has not been regularly holding briefings throughout the pandemic, and Trump has at times clashed with Anthony FauciAnthony FauciFauci warns US needs to ‘hunker down’ for fall, winter: ‘It’s not going to be easy’ Three ways to keep communities moving forward Poll: Most Americans wouldn’t take a COVID-19 vaccine before the election MORE, the government’s top infectious diseases expert.

“They should give him a White House platform every day,” Koh said of Fauci, “so that he and other top leaders are allowed to give the consistent, evidence-based guidance to the public that we all need and deserve.”

Russia plans to send investigators to Germany to continue the probe into the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

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Navalny became ill on a domestic flight in August and was later transported to a German hospital, where officials placed him in a medically induced coma. 

Medical personnel believe Navalny was poisoned with the Novichok nerve agent, a substance also suspected to have been used in the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal. The hospital said over the weekend that Navalny has emerged from the coma.

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“This request will include an application for the possible presence of Russian internal affairs investigators … and a Russian specialist when German colleagues are conducting investigations with Navalny, doctors and experts,” the transport department of Russia’s interior ministry in Siberia said in a statement, according to Reuters.

German officials told the wire service they have not received a request from the Russian authorities thus far.

Russia has said that it would not launch an official investigation into the case until hard evidence is presented showing Navalny was poisoned. 

The House Foreign Affairs Committee also called for an investigation into Navalny’s poisoning Tuesday.

“If the Russian government is once again determined to have used a chemical weapon against one of its own nationals, additional sanctions should be imposed,” Chairman Eliot EngelEliot Lance EngelTop Pompeo aides to appear before House panel next week Pompeo says ‘substantial chance’ Navalny poisoning was ordered by senior Russian official House panel calls for Trump to investigate Russia’s role in Navalny poisoning MORE (D-N.Y.) and ranking member Michael McCaulMichael Thomas McCaulPompeo says ‘substantial chance’ Navalny poisoning was ordered by senior Russian official House panel calls for Trump to investigate Russia’s role in Navalny poisoning Hillicon Valley: ‘Fortnite’ owner sues Apple after game is removed from App Store | Federal agencies seize, dismantle cryptocurrency campaigns of major terrorist organizations MORE (R-Texas) wrote in a joint letter to President TrumpDonald John TrumpWarren: I feel ‘deep down fury’ that Trump downplayed pandemic NYT reporter removed from Trump rally in Michigan Trump says he didn’t share classified information following Woodward book MORE Tuesday.

A prominent opposition leader in Belarus was reportedly detained by authorities on Tuesday after she allegedly ripped up her passport as Belarus officials attempted to expel her from the country. 

A border official said the opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova was detained by authorities, Reuters reported.

Kolesnikova was a key figure in the weeks of mass protests that have followed after the reelection of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. She had been missing for the past 24 hours after supporters said she was snatched off of the street on Monday by masked men in Minsk, Reuters reports.

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The Interfax Ukraine news agency said Kolesnikova deliberately ripped up her passport so Ukrainian border officials would not be able to let her through, according to Reuters. 

Deputy Ukrainian Interior Minister Anton Gerashchenko also said on Facebook that Kolesnikova prevented a “forcible expulsion from her native country,” Reuters reports. 

“Maria Kolesnikova was not able to be deported from Belarus as this brave woman took steps to prevent herself from being moved across the border. She remained on the territory of the Republic of Belarus. Alexander Lukashenko is personally responsible for her life and health,” Gerashchenko said, according to the newswire. 

A Ukrainian border official told Reuters Kolesnikova was detained but did not confirm her location. The official told the newswire two other opposition figures who had gone missing around the same time as Kolesnikova, Anton Rodnenkov and Ivan Kravtsov, did enter Ukraine early Tuesday. 

“Kolesnikova has now been detained, I can’t say concretely where she is, but she has been detained,” Anton Bychkovsky, a representative of the Belarusian border service, told Reuters.

“She was detained in connection with the circumstances under which they (the group) left the territory of Belarus,” he said.

Happy Thursday and welcome back to On The Money. I’m Sylvan Lane, and here’s your nightly guide to everything affecting your bills, bank account and bottom line.

See something I missed? Let me know at slane@thehill.com or tweet me @SylvanLane. And if you like your newsletter, you can subscribe to it here: http://bit.ly/1NxxW2N.

Write us with tips, suggestions and news: slane@thehill.com, njagoda@thehill.com and nelis@thehill.com. Follow us on Twitter: @SylvanLane, @NJagoda and @NivElis.

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THE BIG DEAL— Senate Democrats block GOP relief bill: Senate Democrats blocked a GOP coronavirus bill on Thursday amid a deep stalemate over the next relief package. 

Senators voted 52-47 on the roughly $500 billion Republican bill, which marked the first coronavirus-related legislation the chamber has voted on since it passed a $484 billion package in April. 

• The vote handed a symbolic victory to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellHillicon Valley: Russia, China and Iran target US elections | Twitter to remove premature election results | Treasury adds Russians, Ukrainians to designated nationals list Overnight Health Care: Senate Democrats block GOP relief bill | Democrats reveal Medicaid chief’s spending on high-paid consultants | Trump calls question about why he ‘lied’ about COVID-19 a ‘disgrace’ On The Money: Senate Democrats block GOP relief bill | Senators don’t expect stimulus until after election | Jobless claims plateau MORE (R-Ky.), who spent weeks haggling with Republicans and the White House over the pared-down GOP bill.
• But it failed to get the 60 votes needed to overcome Thursday’s procedural hurdle as congressional Democratic leadership and the White House remain at odds over another coronavirus package.

What it means: This vote may give vulnerable Republican senators some cover in the upcoming election, but it ultimately does nothing for the tens of millions of Americans struggling with unemployment, food scarcity, mounting bills and a deadly pandemic amid a partisan standoff. The Hill’s Jordain Carney has more here.

The bickering: The brinkmanship was on full display ahead of Thursday’s vote as McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerDemocrats push resolution to battle climate change, sluggish economy and racial injustice Treasury Dept. sanctions Russian, Ukrainian individuals for election interference North Carolina attorney general says DeJoy allegations merit investigation MORE (D-N.Y.) traded shots on the Senate floor. 

• McConnell called Schumer’s strategy on the coronavirus bill “toxic,” after the Democratic leader told reporters that Republicans were the “enemy of the good.” 
• “Senators who share the Democratic leader’s toxic attitude, who think the real enemy are their political opponents, I assume will follow his lead and vote no. They can tell American families they care more about politics than helping them,” McConnell added. 
• Schumer fired back that Thursday’s vote was “pointless” and that the GOP bill was “emaciated.”

What comes next: There’s no sign that congressional Democrats or the White House will relent.

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• The White House, Schumer and House Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Democrats push resolution to battle climate change, sluggish economy and racial injustice | Senators reach compromise on greenhouse gas amendment stalling energy bill | Trump courts Florida voters with offshore drilling moratorium On The Money: Senate Democrats block GOP relief bill | Senators don’t expect stimulus until after election | Jobless claims plateau GOP senators say coronavirus deal dead until after election MORE (D-Calif.) remain far apart not only on the price tag but also on significant policy issues including unemployment insurance and more money for state and local governments.
• Pelosi, during a press conference with reporters on Thursday, dug in on the Democratic negotiating position. “Let’s not have a skinny bill when we have a massive problem,” she said. 

Senators also appear increasingly pessimistic that Congress will be able to get a deal until after the November election.

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LEADING THE DAY

Jobless claims steady at 884K despite decline in unemployment rate: The latest impasse over another round of stimulus comes after some disappointing economic news.

New weekly claims for unemployment benefits stayed flat last week when adjusted for seasonal factors, but rose by more than 20,000 on an unadjusted basis, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

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• In the week ending Sept. 5, the number of seasonally adjusted initial claims for unemployment insurance totaled 884,000, unchanged from the previous week’s revised level of applications. 
• Without adjustments for seasonal factors, claims rose 857,148 in the week ending Sept. 5, a 2.4 percent increase from the previous week’s 837,000 claims. 
• Claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, a program meant to cover workers excluded from traditional jobless benefits, also rose to 838,916 last week, an increase of roughly 91,000 applications from the previous week.

I break down the report here.

What it means: The new data on jobless claims is a troubling sign for a U.S. economy still suffering from high levels of unemployment and staggeringly high unemployment applications more than five months after the onset of the coronavirus recession.

• “What is clear from the claims data is that the expiration of unemployment benefits is if anything sapping positive momentum in the labor market, not boosting it. The problem here is labor DEMAND not labor supply. We are supporting demand less so we get less hiring,” tweeted Julia Coronado, a former Federal Reserve economist. 
• “Through the week of August 22, there were 29.6 million individuals receiving some form of unemployment benefits,” wrote Joe Brusuelas, chief economist at tax and audit firm RSM. “This is not an encouraging evolution of the data.”

Trump payroll-tax deferral for federal workers sparks backlash: The Trump administration’s decision to require the deferral of payroll taxes for federal workers and military members is creating more divisions around the president’s attempt to provide short-term economic relief.

• Many private sector employers are not expected to defer their employees’ Social Security payroll taxes under Trump’s order, but the federal government is making it mandatory for its employees. 
• Federal agencies have indicated that the deferral will apply to all eligible civilian employees and service members.

Why it matters: The federal government is the most prominent employer to announce it’s participating in the deferral, and the administration’s move to defer the payroll taxes of executive branch workers increases the impact of an action by Trump that may have little effect beyond government.

“That makes it much more salient,” said Rep. Don Beyer (D), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee whose Northern Virginia district includes many federal workers.

The Hill’s Naomi Jagoda explains here.

 

GOOD TO KNOW

• House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard NealRichard Edmund NealOn The Money: Senate Democrats block GOP relief bill | Senators don’t expect stimulus until after election | Jobless claims plateau Top Democrat urges IRS to expedite letters to non-filers about stimulus payments Massachusetts proves Puerto Ricans are the secret key to Dem victory in November MORE (D-Mass.) on Thursday urged the IRS to expedite letters to urge non-filers to claim their coronavirus relief payments.
• JPMorgan Chase & Co. executives instructed its senior trading floor managers to return by Sept. 21 in Wednesday calls, a person familiar with the plans told The Hill. 
• The IRS announced this week that it will be providing the individual income tax return in Spanish for the first time.
• Democrats are introducing a new resolution outlining an economic vision they hope will fight climate change while battling racial injustice.
• Citigroup announced Thursday that CEO Michael Corbat will retire this coming February and be replaced by Jane Fraser, who will be the first woman to helm a major Wall Street bank. 

 

ODDS AND ENDS

• Dozens of Amazon products sold under its AmazonBasics line have exploded and started fires, CNN reported Thursday, citing customer reviews and interviews. 
• The Treasury Department on Thursday added four Russian and Ukrainian individuals to its specially designated nationals list, citing attempts by the individuals to interfere in U.S. elections. 

Lawmakers are growing increasingly pessimistic about the chances of passing another coronavirus relief package, warning they don’t believe there will be a deal in the final weeks before the election.

The dimming hopes for a sweeping agreement come even as Senate Republicans plan to vote Thursday on their slimmed-down bill, which won’t garner the 60 votes needed to advance, and as stalled talks between congressional Democrats and the White House show no signs of a breakthrough.

Complicating matters further is the tight time frame: Lawmakers have just a matter of weeks before they leave Washington for the final campaign stretch, and between now and then they have other priorities, like funding the government to avoid a shutdown on Oct. 1.

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Without significant progress, senators say the prospects for an agreement are fading.

“I think there’s always some possibility, but … unless something really broke through, it’s not going to happen,” said Sen. Richard ShelbyRichard Craig ShelbyPessimism grows as hopes fade for coronavirus deal McConnell backs stopgap bill to fund government into December Davis: The Hall of Shame for GOP senators who remain silent on Donald Trump MORE (R-Ala.).

Asked what he thought the chances of a bipartisan deal were, Sen. Mike BraunMichael BraunPessimism grows as hopes fade for coronavirus deal McConnell shores up GOP support for coronavirus package Patient Protection Pledge offers price transparency MORE (R-Ind.) replied, “Zero.”

“I don’t think there will be” any deal, he added.

The new pessimism comes only days after the Senate returned to Washington from a four-week August recess. The House is scheduled to return on Monday for roughly three weeks.

But there have been few signs of movement in the talks between Treasury Secretary Steven MnuchinSteven Terner MnuchinPessimism grows as hopes fade for coronavirus deal On Paycheck Protection Program, streamlined forgiveness is key McConnell accuses Democrats of sabotaging COVID-19 relief talks MORE, White House chief of staff Mark MeadowsMark Randall MeadowsMeadows ‘would not have recommended’ Woodward’s access to White House in early virus days Pessimism grows as hopes fade for coronavirus deal McConnell accuses Democrats of sabotaging COVID-19 relief talks MORE, Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiPessimism grows as hopes fade for coronavirus deal Trump acknowledged downplaying COVID-19 threat, says Woodward book The Hill’s Campaign Report: Woodward’s bombshells l Biden clobbers Trump in fundraising l Democrats swamp the airwaves MORE (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerNorth Carolina attorney general says DeJoy allegations merit investigation Pelosi expresses confidence lawmakers will avoid government shutdown House Democrats to investigate accusations DeJoy reimbursed former employees for GOP contributions MORE (D-N.Y.) since negotiations derailed in early August amid steep differences on the price tag and key policy provisions in a coronavirus relief package.

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Unlike July and early August, when Republicans were drafting their bill and bipartisan talks were happening almost daily, Mnuchin and Meadows did not attend Wednesday’s closed-door Republican caucus lunch, where they had previously provided updates on a potential agreement with Democrats.

Mnuchin told reporters that he had spoken with Pelosi — but about funding the government before the Sept. 30 deadline.

When asked about the chances for another coronavirus deal this year, Mnuchin said, “I don’t know. We’ll see. I hope there is. It’s important to a lot of people out there.”

Democrats are feeling little pressure to move from their negotiating position. Pelosi and Schumer offered in early August to reduce their $3.4 trillion price tag by $1 trillion if Republicans were willing to increase their $1.1 trillion plan by the same amount.

The White House rejected that offer, though they’ve moved closer toward endorsing a $1.5 trillion package. The Senate GOP bill getting a vote on Thursday is expected to cost around $500 billion.

But that’s unlikely to satisfy Democrats.

Pelosi, during an interview with MSNBC, rejected the idea that some funding was better than no additional coronavirus relief.

“No, it isn’t. …I hear it a lot. And, clearly, it springs from all the good intentions we all have to help people as soon as we can. [But] it does nothing,” Pelosi said.

Asked if the talks with the White House “were alive,” Schumer told reporters, “Well, they can be alive.”

In the meantime, Republicans will hold a vote Thursday on a scaled-down coronavirus relief bill that would provide a $300-per-week federal unemployment benefit, another round of Paycheck Protection Program funding, more money for hospitals and schools and liability protections against coronavirus-related lawsuits.

Republicans are increasingly confident about their ability to garner at least 51 votes for the bill — a U-turn from as recently as last month when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellPessimism grows as hopes fade for coronavirus deal On The Money: McConnell shores up GOP support for coronavirus package | Biden unveils plan to penalize companies that offshore jobs | Trump faces fewer chances to bolster economic argument McConnell accuses Democrats of sabotaging COVID-19 relief talks MORE (R-Ky.) warned that up to 20 GOP senators would not support any additional coronavirus relief.

Even though the Republican package won’t get the 60 votes needed to overcome procedural hurdles and pass the Senate, GOP senators argue that isn’t the point. Instead, they want to let their members vote on legislation that spells out what Republicans support. The vote will also give vulnerable Republicans something to tout back home as they try to fend off Democratic challengers.

“I think Republican senators have a chance this week to at least nail down some of their priorities … and I hope that is good enough because our vulnerable members have all been working hard to get to a conclusion,” said Sen. Roy BluntRoy Dean BluntPessimism grows as hopes fade for coronavirus deal CDC says asymptomatic people don’t need testing, draws criticism from experts The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – First lady casts Trump as fighter for the ‘forgotten’ MORE (R-Mo.), a member of GOP leadership.

Asked if he thought it was unlikely they would pass a coronavirus bill before the election, he added, “My guess would be that if we leave in September with a [stopgap spending measure], we will not come back to do anything before the election.”

And McConnell, during a weekly press conference Wednesday, accused Democrats of sabotaging the coronavirus negotiations until after the election, saying that “the conclusion you can honestly draw from this is they don’t want to do a deal. They don’t want to do a deal before the election.”

Democrats, however, argue that the GOP bill isn’t a good-faith attempt to get a COVID-19 agreement, instead asserting that McConnell is more interested in trying to provide cover to his vulnerable members as they play defense and try to hold onto their majority.

“Some of them believe we don’t need to do anything,” said Sen. Dick DurbinRichard (Dick) Joseph DurbinPessimism grows as hopes fade for coronavirus deal Emboldened Democrats haggle over 2021 agenda Hillicon Valley: Russia ‘amplifying’ concerns around mail-in voting to undermine election | Facebook and Twitter take steps to limit Trump remarks on voting | Facebook to block political ads ahead of election MORE (D-Ill.) about whether Republicans would hold Thursday’s vote and want to move on. He added that if there was still going to be a bipartisan bill it “certainly won’t be the McConnell plan.”

Schumer said Democrats are hoping that by blocking the GOP measure on Thursday, it will force Republicans to negotiate a bipartisan bill, adding that McConnell was the “secretary of cynicism” for his plan. But he also floated that Republicans don’t want an agreement.

“Some would say if they want to come to a compromise, why would they put poison pills in the bill that they know are non-starters to get a bipartisan compromise?” Schumer said. “It is because they don’t really want a bill, but a political issue, one that will ultimately backfire on them, I believe.”

Happy Tuesday 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 feud between President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump-backed candidate wins NH GOP Senate primary to take on Shaheen Trump, supporters gather without masks in NC despite request from local GOP official Trump-backed candidate wins NH GOP primary to take on Pappas MORE and the Pentagon is escalating weeks before the presidential election in which Trump sees service members, veterans and other military supporters as a key part of his base.

After days battling fallout from an explosive report alleging he made disparaging comments about dead troops, Trump on Monday turned his ire to Pentagon leaders, saying they don’t support him because they are beholden to the defense industry.

Trump’s defenders on Tuesday argued he was evoking President Eisenhower’s famed warning about the military-industrial complex, not attacking any particular Pentagon officials.

But the episode is the latest chapter in an unfolding saga that has raised questions anew about whether Trump can prevent his military support from eroding.

Read more about the feud here.

 

LAWMAKERS LAUNCH INVESTIGATION INTO FORT HOOD AFTER 28TH DEATH THIS YEAR: Two House subcommittees on Tuesday opened an investigation into the string of recent soldier deaths at Fort Hood, Texas, and called on the Army to provide more documents and information. 

The House Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on National Security and the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel “are jointly investigating whether an alarming pattern of recent tragedies at Fort Hood, Texas, may be symptomatic of underlying leadership, discipline, and morale deficiencies throughout the chain-of-command,” wrote the respective subpanel heads, Reps. Stephen LynchStephen Francis LynchOvernight Defense: Trump’s battle with Pentagon poses risks in November | Lawmakers launch Fort Hood probe | Military members can’t opt out of tax deferral Lawmakers launch investigation into Fort Hood after 28th death this year Rep. Stephen Lynch beats back progressive challenger in Massachusetts MORE (D-Mass) and Jackie SpeierKaren (Jackie) Lorraine Jacqueline SpeierOvernight Defense: Trump’s battle with Pentagon poses risks in November | Lawmakers launch Fort Hood probe | Military members can’t opt out of tax deferral Lawmakers launch investigation into Fort Hood after 28th death this year OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Watchdog to weigh probe of Trump advancements on Pebble Mine | Interior finalizes public lands HQ move out West over congressional objections | EPA to issue methane rollback: report MORE (D-Calif.), in a letter to Army Secretary Ryan McCarthyRyan McCarthyOvernight Defense: Trump’s battle with Pentagon poses risks in November | Lawmakers launch Fort Hood probe | Military members can’t opt out of tax deferral Lawmakers launch investigation into Fort Hood after 28th death this year Overnight Defense: China aims to double nuclear arsenal | Fort Hood commander removed after string of deaths MORE. 

“Where appropriate, we intend to seek justice on behalf of those in uniform, and their families, who may have been failed by a military system and culture that was ultimately responsible for their care and protection.”

A continuing problem: Fort Hood is one of the military’s most troubled installations, with an average of 129 felonies committed annually between 2014 and 2019, including cases of homicide, sexual assault, kidnapping, robbery and aggravated assault, according to Army data.

Last week, Pvt. Corlton Chee, 25, died after he collapsed following a physical fitness training exercise five days earlier. He was the 28th soldier at the post to die this year, according to The Associated Press.

Chee’s death follows the disappearances and later discovery of the bodies of  Sgt. Elder Fernandes, 23, Pfc. Vanessa Guillen, 20, Pvt. Mejhor Morta, 26, and Pfc. Gregory Morales, 24. 

Not enough, lawmakers say: The Army has since announced changes to Fort Hood leadership. It announced last week it was removing the commander, Maj. Gen. Scott Efflandt, from his role and barring him from a planned position at another Texas base.

McCarthy in July directed the service to independently review the command climate at the installation.

But Lynch and Speier say that’s not enough.

“While the Army has directed an independent review of Fort Hood, Congressional oversight is necessary to determine whether base leadership—by omission or commission— has allowed or enabled a culture to exist that undermines the values and traditions of the U.S. Army,” they write.

What they want: The two are requesting all relevant medical and administrative records and communications between Fort Hood leadership, military police, the Army Criminal Investigative Division, and state and local law enforcement related to any sexual assault or harassment allegations made by Fernandes, Guillen, Morales and Morta. It also wants all records and communications related to their disappearances and deaths.

They also want the specific timelines related to the Fort Hood response to any sexual assault or harassment allegations made by the four soldiers. 

They ask that the Army provide the documents by Oct. 2.

 

MILITARY MEMBERS CAN’T OPT OUT OF TRUMP’S PAYROLL TAX DEFERMENT: Military members will be subject to President Trump’s payroll tax deferral and will not be able to opt out of it, the payroll services provider for the Department of Defense said over the weekend.

“Military members are not eligible to opt-out of the deferral if their Social Security wages fall within the stated limits,” the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) said on its website. “The deferral will happen automatically.” 

Specifics on the memo: Trump signed a memo last month directing the Treasury Department to allow employers to defer payment of employee-side Social Security payroll taxes, in an effort to provide relief to workers during the coronavirus pandemic. Under IRS guidance implementing the order, employers can cease withholding the 6.2 percent Social Security tax from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31 for workers who make less than $4,000 biweekly, and then recoup the money by increasing the amount withheld from workers’ paychecks in the first few months of next year.

While the federal government is participating in the deferral, many private-sector employers are not expected to do so. Business groups have been critical of the deferral because they don’t want to put their employees in a position where they’ll get smaller than usual paychecks next year.  

How military members will be affected: The DFAS said the Social Security tax deferral will be effective for military members’ mid-September pay for service members whose monthly rate of basic pay is less than $8,666.66. The payroll provider said that collection of the deferred taxes would be taken from wages between Jan. 1 and April 30 and that it would provide more information about the collection process in the future.

The payroll tax deferral will also be mandatory for civilian Defense Department employees whose wages are below $4,000 in a given biweekly pay period, the DFAS said.

FROM THE WEEKEND: FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN TALKS ON MASSIVE DEFENSE BILL: The House and Senate are expected to begin negotiations in earnest in the coming weeks on a massive defense policy bill President Trump has threatened to veto.

Staffers on the House and Senate Armed Services committees have started unofficial talks since both chambers passed their versions of the $740.5 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in July, a congressional aide said. But lawmakers have not yet officially formed a conference committee to reconcile the two bills.

It’s unclear exactly when Congress will vote to go to conference, but the aide said it typically happens about 45 days after each chamber passes its version of the NDAA. Last year’s conference started in September after both chambers passed their versions in June and July.

Trump has threatened to veto the NDAA over a provision — variations of which are in each bill — that would require the Pentagon to rename military bases named after Confederate leaders.

Read more about the five issues to watch when the NDAA conference negotiations start here.

 

ON TAP:

Japanese Defense Minister H.E. Kono Taro will speak at the Center for Strategic and International Studies webcast: “Mt. Fuji D.C. Event: The U.S.-Japan Alliance at 60,” at 8 a.m.

The Defense Department will hold its Artificial Intelligence Symposium and Exposition featuring Defense Secretary Mark EsperMark EsperOvernight Defense: Trump’s battle with Pentagon poses risks in November | Lawmakers launch Fort Hood probe | Military members can’t opt out of tax deferral Northrop Grumman wins .3B Air Force contract to build new ICBMs Trump’s battles with military raise risks for November MORE; Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman Gen. John Hyten; Katharina McFarland, National Security Commission on AI; Lauren Knausenberger, Air Force Chief Information Officer; and Michael Kratsios, acting undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, beginning at 9 a.m. 

The American Enterprise Institute will hold a webcast on “The crossroad of competition: Countering the rise of violent extremists and revisionist powers in Africa,” with Air Force Maj. Gen. Dagvin Anderson, commander, U.S. Special Operations Command Africa; at 9:15 a.m. 

Brookings Institution will hold a webinar on “U.S. Policy in the Middle East,” with Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker at 10 a.m. 

Air Force Brig. Gen. Chad Raduege will speak during the Defense Strategies Institute “Military Tactical Communications Summit” webcast at 1:30 p.m. 

The Atlantic Council will hold a webinar on “Countering New Threats to the Homeland: The Future of the Department of Homeland Security,” with former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff; former Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano; former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson; former Deputy Assistant DHS Secretary for Counterterrorism Policy Thomas Warrick; and former Assistant DHS Secretary for Infrastructure Protection Caitlin Durkovich at 4 p.m. 

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Journalist Bob Woodward has released tapes of his interviews with President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump-backed candidate wins NH GOP Senate primary to take on Shaheen Trump, supporters gather without masks in NC despite request from local GOP official Trump-backed candidate wins NH GOP primary to take on Pappas MORE for a new book, including audio of Trump acknowledging he purposely downplayed the risks of the coronavirus.

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Portions of the audio were played by CNN, MSNBC, and released on The Washington Post website, where Woodward is an associate editor.

“Well I think, Bob, really to be honest with you…” Trump says in one audio clip of a March 19 interview posted by CNN.

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“Sure I want you to be,” Woodward replies.

“I wanted to–I wanted to always play it down. I still like playing it down, because I don’t want to create a panic,” Trump says.

In another interview, in February, Trump called the virus more deadly even than a bad flu, a sharp contrast to his public remarks at the time downplaying the risks from the virus.

“It’s also more deadly than your — you know, your, even your strenuous flus,” Trump said on Feb. 7.

The audio drives home the revelations in Woodward’s new book, “Rage,” slated to be released next week, and can help counter White House efforts to downplay the revelations.

Dozens of Amazon products sold under its AmazonBasics line have exploded and started fires, CNN reported Thursday, citing customer reviews and interviews. 

At least 1,500 reviews, covering more than 70 items, have described products exploding, catching on fire, smoking, melting, causing electrical malfunctions or otherwise posing risks, since 2016, according to a CNN analysis of AmazonBasics electronics and appliances on its websites. 

Many customers in the reviews reportedly called items potentially dangerous, using such terms as “hazard” or “fire” to describe them, or calling for the products to be recalled. Some of the customer reviews include images showing the explosions or burnt items. 

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About 30 items with three or more of those reviews remain for sale on Amazon’s website, while at least 11 others were no longer for sale at the time CNN published its report.

Amazon confirmed to CNN at least one of these products had been under investigation, but said the company determined they all met its safety standards. 

CNN also sent two damaged AmazonBasics products it received from customers for testing by the University of Maryland’s Center for Advanced Life Cycle Engineering (CALCE).

A USB cord sent by CNN was too burned for researchers to determine what had gone wrong, but testing on a microwave found a panel design covering the machine’s heating device could result in it catching on fire. The microwave began sparking and smoking as soon as researchers turned it on, according to CNN. The testing was cut short when the lab closed due to COVID-19. 

“There’s a risk in using this machine for sure, and it’s a safety risk because this clearly heated up to the extent a fire could occur,” engineering professor Michael Pecht, who is the founder of CALCE and has previously assisted in government safety investigations, told CNN. “This is more than a reliability problem, this is a potential safety problem.”

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An Amazon spokesperson said in a statement to The Hill that the company is “confident” the AmazonBasics Microwave “is safe to use.”

“We take several steps to ensure our products are safe including rigorous testing by our safety teams and third party labs. The appliance continues to meet or exceed all certification requirements established by the FDA, UL, FCC, Prop 65, and others for safety and functionality,” the spokesperson added.

The spokesperson also said that “safety is a top priority at Amazon” and that the company takes “a number or proactive steps to ensure this,” including working with third party labs to establish safety and compliance standards, testing products to ensure they pass safety and compliance standard and monitoring customer feedback for any indicators of a safety or quality concern. 

Amazon also posted a blog post Thursday in response to the CNN story about the products, laying out the process the company has in place “to ensure our products are safe.” 

“We’re continuously refining our processes and leveraging new technologies to ensure that AmazonBasics products are safe for their intended use. We want customers to shop our products with confidence, and if there’s ever a concern, you can contact our customer service team and we’ll promptly investigate,” the company said.

Secretary of State Mike PompeoMichael (Mike) Richard PompeoOvernight Defense: Trump announces new US ambassador to Afghanistan | Pentagon officially withdraws plan to end ‘Stars and Stripes’ | Biden says Trump doesn’t understand national security, intel officials ‘don’t trust’ him Trump: Pompeo traveling to Taliban, Afghan government talks Trump announces new US ambassador to Afghanistan MORE will leave for Doha, Qatar, on Thursday night for the start of talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government, President TrumpDonald John TrumpWarren: I feel ‘deep down fury’ that Trump downplayed pandemic NYT reporter removed from Trump rally in Michigan Trump says he didn’t share classified information following Woodward book MORE announced.

The intra-Afghan talks, which are expected to start Saturday, mark a major milestone in implementing the withdrawal agreement the Trump administration signed with the Taliban in February.

“The start of these talks marks a historic opportunity for Afghanistan to bring an end to four decades of war and bloodshed,” Pompeo said in a separate statement Thursday after the Taliban and Afghan government announced the start of talks.

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“This opportunity must not be squandered,” Pompeo added. “Immense sacrifice and investment by the United States, our partners, and the people of Afghanistan have made this moment of hope possible. I urge the negotiators to demonstrate the pragmatism, restraint and flexibility this process will require to succeed. The people of Afghanistan and the international community will be watching closely. The United States is prepared to support as requested.”

The State Department also said after Trump’s news conference Pompeo would attend the negotiations’s opening ceremony Saturday.

The start of talks gives Trump something to point to weeks before an election where he is campaigning in part by arguing he is ending America’s so-called endless wars.

“The negotiations are a result of a bold diplomatic effort on the part of my administration in recent months and years,” Trump said at a news conference. “The United States will play an important role in bringing the parties together to end the decades-long war. It’s been going on for almost 20 years. Long before I got involved, I can tell you that.”

Still, significant questions remain on whether intra-Afghan negotiations will be successful in ending the 19-year war, given the far gap between the Afghan government and the Taliban on issues such as a ceasefire and women’s rights.

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The Trump administration signed an agreement with the Taliban in February that lays out a timeline for a full U.S. withdrawal from the country if the insurgents honor their commitment to prevent terrorists from using Afghanistan to launch attacks against the West.

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In line with the U.S.-Taliban deal, the U.S. military dropped to about 8,600 troops in Afghanistan earlier this summer. On Thursday, U.S. Central Command chief Gen. Frank McKenzie affirmed plans to draw down to about 4,500 by late October or early November, after Trump and Defense Secretary Mark EsperMark EsperOvernight Defense: Trump announces new US ambassador to Afghanistan | Pentagon officially withdraws plan to end ‘Stars and Stripes’ | Biden says Trump doesn’t understand national security, intel officials ‘don’t trust’ him Pentagon officially withdraws plan to end ‘Stars and Stripes’ Trump: Pompeo traveling to Taliban, Afghan government talks MORE previously said there would be less than 5,000 troops there by Election Day.

The U.S.-Taliban agreement was also supposed to proceed intra-Afghan negotiations — specified in the document as starting in March — but the talks were repeatedly delayed amid a halted prisoner swap.

The U.S. withdrawal is not conditioned on the talks. But their delay, as well as stepped-up Taliban attacks on Afghan forces, has fueled criticism that the Trump administration’s deal was failing.

Updated at 5:02 p.m.