Two-thirds of Americans surveyed in a new Gallup poll expressed dissatisfaction with the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S.  

The survey determined that 66 percent of respondents were dissatisfied with the vaccination distribution and administration process as responsibility for the initiative transferred to the Biden administration. More than one-fifth of participants – at 21 percent – said they were very dissatisfied.  

A total of 34 percent of Americans reported satisfaction with the vaccination rollout, with 4 percent saying they were very satisfied.

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Republicans were split on the issue, with 51 percent expressing dissatisfaction and 49 percent saying they were satisfied with the process. Majorities of Democrats and independents said they were dissatisfied with the process at 79 percent and 63 percent, respectively. 

The poll also recorded the highest percentage of participants being willing to take the vaccine since Gallup began asking in July, with 71 percent saying they were now open to it. This included 9 percent of people responded that they had taken at least one dose of the vaccine already.

The new findings represented an increase from 65 percent who said they would be willing to take the vaccine in December.

Willingness to take the vaccine rose to record highs among Democrats and Republicans, at 91 percent and 51 percent, respectively. Republicans, however, are still the least likely among the demographic groups to be willing to get the inoculations. 

The Gallup poll surveyed 4,098 adults between Jan. 25 and 31, or five to 11 days after President BidenJoe BidenPostal Service posts profits after surge in holiday deliveries Overnight Defense: Pentagon pushes to root out extremism in ranks | Top admiral condemns extremism after noose, hate speech discovered GOP senators send clear signal: Trump’s getting acquitted MORE’s inauguration. The margin of error amounted to 2 percentage points.

Biden railed against the Trump administration’s vaccination plans in a CBS News interview last week, saying “one of the disappointments” while transitioning was “the circumstances related to how the administration was handling COVID was even more dire than we thought.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than 32.8 million people have received at least one dose of the vaccine, with more than 9.8 million getting both doses.

–Updated at 7:44 a.m.

Happy Wednesday 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: President BidenJoe BidenFormer Republican officials in talks to form center-right anti-Trump party: report Biden raises concerns with Xi in first call with Chinese leader as president Castro: Trump further incited the mob ‘against his own vice president’ MORE made his first visit to the Pentagon as commander-in-chief Wednesday.

He was accompanied by Vice President Harris. During the visit, he and Harris met with Pentagon officials including Defense Secretary Lloyd AustinLloyd AustinOvernight Defense: Biden talks China, diversity in first visit to Pentagon | Army leaders call out extremism | Former Navy head defends handling of Roosevelt COVID-19 outbreak Biden announces Pentagon review of China strategy Biden emphasizes diversity in first visit to Pentagon MORE and also took of the African Americans in Service corridor of the Pentagon along with Austin, who is the first African American man to lead the Defense Department.

Biden also gave a speech in which he made clear his top national security concern is China and sought to turn the page from the turmoil at the department during the Trump administration.

On politicization: During his speech, Biden promised never to politicize the military, drawing a contrast to the controversies of the Trump administration without naming his predecessor.

“You are incredible heroes and incredible patriots. I will never, ever dishonor you, I will never disrespect you. I will never politicize the work you do,” Biden said. “This is personal for me. The Biden family is a military family. We learned firsthand some of what your families experienced.” 

On diversity: Harris and Biden each paid tribute to Black History Month, noting the sacrifices of Black service members. Biden said that the contributions of Black service members throughout history had helped America move toward “greater equality.” 

“Right now, more than 40 percent of our active duty forces are people of color. It’s long past time that the full diversity and full strength of our force is reflected at every level in this department,” Biden said.

Biden also pledged to ensure all service members are treated with “dignity and respect,” pointing to his order to reverse the Trump administration’s transgender military ban.

“Every single person, no matter their gender identity, sexual orientation, race or religious background, deserves to feel safe in the ranks and to have their contributions valued,” he said. “It’s on all of us to stand up, to speak out when you see someone being abused. This is an organization that has defeated American enemies on land, sea and air, and been defined by the way we treat others. So I know this is not beyond us. Not if each of us makes this a priority as well.”

On China: Biden also used the speech to announce a Defense Department review of its China strategy as part of a larger push to decide how his administration will counter Beijing.

“We need to meet the growing challenges posed by China to keep peace and defend our interests in the Indo-Pacific and globally,” Biden said.

The newly formed Department of Defense China task force will study the U.S. military’s strategy and operation in Asia, technology, force posture, intelligence, the role of allies and partnerships in the region, and defense relations with China, among other areas, according to a fact sheet released Wednesday.

Biden, who was briefed on the task force prior to his remarks, said that over the next few months, the group will provide recommendations to Austin on “key priorities and decision points so that we can chart a strong path forward on China related matters.”

Austin’s top assistant on China, Ely Ratner, will lead the task force.

What about the Middle East wars?: The Pentagon is in the midst of a review ordered by Biden of global U.S. force posture and participating in the administration’s review of the U.S.-Taliban deal, including whether to fully withdraw from Afghanistan by May.

Biden did not comment directly on troops levels Wednesday, but said he will work with Austin and “leaders around the world to bring a responsible end to wars that have dragged on for far too long.”

Still, he pledged to “continue to ensure that terrorist threats cannot endanger the security of the American people.”

ARMY CALLS OUT EXTREMISM: Coming on the heels of Tuesday night’s Navy message against extremism, Army leaders on Wednesday called on the force to combat “corrosive behavior” including discrimination, extremist views and sexual harassment.

“Corrosive behavior such as discrimination, extremism and sexual harassment or assault have no place in our formations and tear at the fabric of the Army,” acting Army Secretary John Whitley said in a prerecorded message to the service.

Whitley added that combating these corrosives “can’t be a one-time spot check,” likely referring to the recently ordered Pentagon-wide “stand-down,” during which commanders must take a day to address extremism with their units.

“To maintain our combat effectiveness and remain the best Army in the world, we must live the Army values each and every day,” he added.

Top enlisted weighs in: Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston, the most senior enlisted member of the service, released his own statement on Wednesday calling on leaders to broach the topic with those under them.

“Have you talked to your teams about extremism? My goal is that everyone trusts their leaders and teammates enough to have these difficult conversations and confront these issues together,” Grinston tweeted.

NO REGRETS: Former acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly resigned under pressure last year amid outrage over the COVID-19 outbreak on the USS Theodore Roosevelt, but he has few regrets about his decisions during that time.

Modly wrote a “lessons learned” piece for the February edition of the U.S. Naval Institute’s “Proceedings” magazine in which he defended his decision to fire the ship’s popular commander and lashed out at those who questioned his actions.

“I know he believed he was making the best decisions he could at the time. In my view, he made a big mistake,” Modly wrote.

“Ultimately, that was my judgment to make as his most senior boss in the Department of the Navy,” he continued. “It was my call. Not the media’s. Not Congress’s. Not the retired generals or admirals who seem very comfortable enhancing their personal brands by second guessing people in public office—a role they resented when they were on active duty and grappling with life-and-death decisions.”

Flashback: Modly resigned in April after firing Crozier and then flying to Guam to give a profanity-laced speech aboard the Roosevelt in which he berated the captain as “too naive or too stupid to be a commanding officer of a ship like this” if he thought his letter wouldn’t leak.

After Modly’s speech leaked, he at first stood by it, but then apologized for his language and resigned as calls from lawmakers for his removal mounted.

In June, the Navy upheld Crozier’s firing, reversing a preliminary recommendation in April to reinstate him, after an internal investigation concluded he did not act quickly enough to protect sailors.

One regret?: Modly allowed that he made mistakes in the “execution” of his decisions, specifically saying he has learned to “avoid using profanity, particularly when your audience might be global.”

But he said he still thinks he was right to fire Crozier, go to Guam and give a “tough” speech to the Roosevelt crew. He also said he was right to resign after his speech leaked.

“In the end, the biggest casualty of the decisions I made regarding the Theodore Roosevelt was my tenure as acting Secretary,” he wrote. “From my perspective, that was a small price to pay if the broader message I tried to convey to the crew about love, duty and courage sinks in with our entire Navy over time.”

Casualties other than his job: More than 1,000 sailors were sickened during the COVID-19 outbreak on the Roosevelt, and one sailor, Chief Petty Officer Charles Robert Thacker Jr., died.

ON TAP FOR TOMORROW

Space Development Agency Director Derek Tournear will provide keynote remarks at 1 p.m. at the virtual Satellite News SmallSat Symposium. https://bit.ly/3jAW0EH

ICYMI

— The Hill: Biden announces sanctions on Myanmar military leaders following coup

— The Hill: Coast Guard rescues three people stranded on island for 33 days

— The Hill: Poll: Biden plan to lift refugee cap his least popular executive action

— The Hill: Wexton, Speier call for revamp of clearance process to screen for extremist views

— The Hill: Katko calls for bipartisanship on cyber issues as threats intensify

— The Hill: Opinion: Congress must step up to restore accountability to national security policy

— The Hill: Opinion: It’s time to debate the relevance of deterrence

— San Diego Union Tribune: In historic first, women begin boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego

— Outrider: Politics of the defense budget

— Military.com: Army special operations school drops ‘III’ logo adopted by extremist group

— Wall Street Journal: Iran has started producing uranium metal, in violation of 2015 accords, IAEA says

The Biden administration on Wednesday urged the Supreme Court to uphold the Affordable Care Act, a reversal from the Trump administration’s backing of a constitutional challenge to the sweeping health care law.

In a two-page letter, the Department of Justice (DOJ) told the court that the Affordable Care Act, popularly known as ObamaCare, remains constitutional, even though a tax penalty meant to enforce the purchase of insurance by most Americans was zeroed out under the previous administration.

“Following the change in Administration, the Department of Justice has reconsidered the government’s position in these cases,” Deputy Solicitor General Edwin Kneedler wrote, adding that “the United States no longer adheres to the [Trump administration’s] conclusions.”

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The development, while unsurprising, marked a dramatic shift in legal positions since November when the justices heard oral arguments in the case.

Under Trump, the DOJ firmly backed a bid by Republican states urging the justices to strike down the law in its entirety.

Led by Texas, the GOP challengers argued that President TrumpDonald TrumpHillary Clinton: Trump acquittal ‘will be because the jury includes his co-conspirators’ Former Republican officials in talks to form center-right anti-Trump party: report Gaetz hits back at Kinzinger PAC targeting ‘Trumpism’ MORE’s 2017 tax-cut law had effectively rendered the health care mandate provision of ObamaCare unconstitutional. Without the tax penalty, they argued, ObamaCare effectively lost its constitutional footing, requiring its invalidation by the court.

But the Biden administration in its Wednesday letter urged the justices to preserve the law. They argued that Trump had not rendered ObamaCare illegal by eliminating the tax penalty.

Alternatively, the DOJ said the justices could simply remove the insurance mandate if they found it unconstitutional, while sparing the rest of the law.

This concept, known as “severability,” appeared to gain traction during oral arguments, with even some of the court’s more conservative members. 

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Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett KavanaughBrett Michael KavanaughBiden administration urges Supreme Court to uphold ObamaCare There’s more to repairing federal courts than Supreme Court expansion  Centrist Democrats pose major problem for progressives MORE seemed to express the view that if the court were to strike down the provision of the law mandating the purchase of health insurance, the rest of the law should be allowed to survive.

Doing so would save some of the core components of ObamaCare, including its protections for people with preexisting conditions.

The Biden administration now joins a coalition of 20 states, led by California, along with the Democratic-led House, in defending the law.

A decision in the case is expected before the court’s term ends in late June.

Updated at 4:21 p.m.

The president of the Tokyo Olympics organizing committee is reportedly set to resign amid an outcry over comments he made earlier this month that women talk too much at board meetings. 

Yoshiro Mori, who previously served as Japan’s prime minister from 2000 to 2001, is expected to step down on Friday when the Olympic organizing committee’s executive board meets, according to reports from multiple news outlets, including Japan’s Kyodo news agency.

He is expected to be replaced by former Japan Football Association president Saburo Kawabuchi.  

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Mori made the claim, which has been widely criticized as sexist, during a virtual meeting of the Japanese Olympic Committee board of directors while responding to a question on the committee’s plan to increase female representation on the board, according to the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun. 

“On boards with a lot of women, the board meetings take so much time,” Mori said at the time.

“Women have a strong sense of competition. If one person raises their hand, others probably think, ‘I need to say something, too.’ That’s why everyone speaks,” he added.

He also said that when you “increase the number of female executive members, if their speaking time isn’t restricted to a certain extent, they have difficulty finishing, which is annoying.” 

Mori last week apologized for the comments but refused to resign, saying that he has “been working hard and helped devotedly for seven years.”

“The statement made at the Japan Olympic Committee was an inappropriate expression, contrary to the spirit of the Olympics and Paralympics,” Mori said. “I am deeply remorseful. I would like to withdraw the statement. I would like to apologize for any unpleasant feelings.”

The Tokyo Olympics are set to open July 23 after being delayed a year amid the coronavirus pandemic. However, some have expressed concerns that the games could continue spreading infections if they are held as planned.

Christopher Krebs, former President Trump’s top cybersecurity official, will testify before the House Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday on threats facing the U.S. 

The hearing is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. EST.

Watch the live video above.

Happy Monday 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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LEADING THE DAY

CBO says $15 minimum wage would increase deficit $54B: The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) on Monday said that raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025 would add $54 billion over 10 years to the budget deficit and lift 900,000 people out of poverty, but lead to 1.4 million lost jobs.

The deficit finding is of particular note because Democrats would like to use budgetary rules to pass a minimum wage hike as part of a budget reconciliation package, a process that can not be filibustered. 

• With the use of such rules, Democrats could advance the budgetary bill through the Senate even if every GOP senator objects, as long as Democrats stick together. 
• A Senate provision known as the Byrd Rule bars policies from being included in a budget reconciliation package unless they are found to have a direct budgetary effect.

As a result, the new finding could make it easier for Democrats to meet the Byrd Rule and include the hike in a budget reconciliation package. The Hill’s Niv Elis explains here.

Democrats further effort to expand child tax credit to $3,600: Democrats are furthering their efforts to expand the child tax credit in an attempt to reduce poverty and provide more assistance to families amid the coronavirus pandemic.

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House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard NealRichard Edmund NealHouse Dems’ COVID-19 relief bill includes 2-year boost to ObamaCare subsidies ON THE MONEY: CBO estimate makes waves | Democrats to expand child tax credit | Wyden wields power House Dems’ COVID-19 aid bill includes ,400 checks MORE (D-Mass.) is expected on Monday to introduce his panel’s portion of House Democrats’ broader coronavirus relief package, which is expected to include a one-year expansion of the child tax credit.

Reps. Rosa DeLauroRosa DeLauroON THE MONEY: CBO estimate makes waves | Democrats to expand child tax credit | Wyden wields power Democrats further effort to expand child tax credit to ,600 Biden reverses Trump last-minute attempt to freeze .4 billion in programs MORE (D-Conn.), Suzan DelBeneSuzan Kay DelBeneON THE MONEY: CBO estimate makes waves | Democrats to expand child tax credit | Wyden wields power Democrats further effort to expand child tax credit to ,600 Lawmakers grill NSA on years-old breach in the wake of massive Russian hack MORE (D-Wash.) and Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) on Monday also reintroduced a bill to permanently expand the credit.

“This is the moment for the child tax credit expansion,” DelBene, a member of the Ways and Means Committee, said Monday during a video press conference. “If we don’t act now, we’ll miss a historic opportunity to give millions of children a brighter future.”

Breaking down the plan: 

• Both measures would make the credit fully refundable, so that lower-income families can receive the full credit amount. 
• They would increase the annual credit amounts from $2,000 to $3,600 for children under age 6 and $3,000 for older children.
• The expanded credit amounts would phase out for higher earners, though the thresholds are slightly different in the two proposals.

Here’s more from The Hill’s Naomi Jagoda.

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THE BIG DEAL—Wyden to wield new power on health care, taxes with committee gavel:

Sen. Ron WydenRonald (Ron) Lee WydenON THE MONEY: CBO estimate makes waves | Democrats to expand child tax credit | Wyden wields power The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by TikTok – Senate trial of Trump to dominate this week Wyden to wield new power on health care, taxes with committee gavel MORE (D-Ore.), the new chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, is poised to be a key player on some of the most hot-button issues over the next two years with Democratic control of both the White House and Congress.

• The Oregon Democrat last week took the reins of a committee that has jurisdiction over major components of the next coronavirus relief package, as well as other top priorities for Democrats. 
• The panel oversees policy areas that impact a wide swath of the economy, including taxes, health care and trade.
• Some of Wyden’s top agenda items include extending and enhancing unemployment benefits, increasing taxes on the wealthy and addressing rising health care and prescription drug costs.

“We got to fix the broken tax code, lower health care costs starting with prescriptions, move towards a carbon-free future and rebuild our infrastructure, and the Finance Committee is the center of all of these issues,” he said on a recent call with reporters.

The Hill’s Naomi Jagoda and Jessie Hellmann tell us what to expect here.

ON TAP TOMORROW:

• The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee holds a confirmation hearing on Neera TandenNeera TandenON THE MONEY: CBO estimate makes waves | Democrats to expand child tax credit | Wyden wields power On The Money: Biden signals he’ll move forward on COVID-19 relief without GOP | Economy adds 49K jobs in January | Minimum wage push sparks Democratic divisions OMB nominee gets hearing on Feb. 9 MORE’s nomination to be director of the White House Office of Management and Budget at 9:15 a.m.
• The House Budget Committee holds an organizational hearing at 11 a.m. 
• The Heritage Foundation holds an event on the impact of a $15 minimum wage at 12 p.m.
• The House Education and Labor Committee holds a markup of its reconciliation instructions for the coronavirus relief bill at 2 p.m.
• The Bipartisan Policy Center holds an event entitled “What’s Next for Stakeholder Capitalism in 2021” at 2 p.m.

GOOD TO KNOW

• Alexandria Ocasio-CortezAlexandria Ocasio-CortezON THE MONEY: CBO estimate makes waves | Democrats to expand child tax credit | Wyden wields power Ocasio-Cortez, Schumer announce federal COVID-19 fund to help families pay for funerals Former Ocasio-Cortez spokesperson: Manchin, Sinema should be primaried if ‘they’re going to stand in the way of progress’ MORE (D-N.Y.) and Senate Majority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerOcasio-Cortez, Schumer announce federal COVID-19 fund to help families pay for funerals Over 60 progressive groups urge Schumer to nix filibuster Booker reintroduces bill to give all newborns ,000 savings accounts MORE (D-N.Y.) announced Monday that funds will soon be available for families struggling to pay funeral costs after losing a loved one to COVID-19. 
• Treasury Secretary Janet YellenJanet Louise YellenMarkets set high hopes for Biden’s relief plan ON THE MONEY: CBO estimate makes waves | Democrats to expand child tax credit | Wyden wields power The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Senate prepares for impeachment trial to start MORE on Sunday called President BidenJoe BidenDemocrats say Trump impeachment defense ‘wholly without merit’ A US-Israel defense treaty has benefits — and perils White House: Biden won’t spend much time watching Trump impeachment trial MORE‘s stimulus package the best way to get the U.S. economy back to pre-pandemic levels.
• The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is probing how Venmo is handling debt collection.
• The family of a college student who died by suicide thinking he’d lost nearly $750,000 on Robinhood filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the stock-trading company on Monday.

ODDS AND ENDS

• Tesla has purchased $1.5 billion worth of Bitcoin and plans on accepting the cryptocurrency as payment soon, The Associated Press reports.
• Three major sports teams in Texas are getting together to support the legalization of sports betting in the Lone Star State, The Dallas Morning News reported.

 

A panel of United Nations experts said North Korea continued its nuclear development program through 2020 despite international sanctions.

Pyongyang “produced fissile material, maintained nuclear facilities and upgraded its ballistic missile infrastructure” despite sanctions, according to the report, viewed by CBS News.

An unnamed member state also told the panel North Korea and Iran have “resumed cooperation on long-range missile development projects,” although it notes that Tehran has denied this claim.

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“Preliminary review of the information provided to us by the Panel indicates that false information and fabricated data may have been used in investigations and analyses of the Panel,” Iranian officials told the panel. The panel had previously examined ties between Tehran and the state-owned Korea Mining Development Trading Corporation, which has also been accused of sanction evasion, CBS reported.

The report further states that North Korea held numerous military parades through the year highlighting “short range, medium range, submarine-launched and intercontinental ballistic missile” technology.

Sanctions and border controls against the country have largely prevented North Korean coal exports since last July, but the report said the country engaged in “elaborate subterfuge” to import refined oil.

Data and images from an anonymous member state for the first nine months of 2020 indicated “illicit shipments exceeded the annual aggregate 500,000-barrel cap by several times.”

The annual report also concluded last year that the country had continued work on nuclear and ballistic missile programs, while an earlier report indicated it had evaded U.N. sanctions and raised up to $2 billion, according to CBS News.

The same report indicated North Korea has financed missile developments through cyber warfare, stealing approximately $316.4 million since 2019.

“Preliminary analysis, based on the attack vectors and subsequent efforts to launder the illicit proceeds strongly suggests links to [North Korea],” the report said, according to The Associated Press. 

President Biden is facing a dilemma that also confounded both of his immediate predecessors: to stay or to go in Afghanistan.

Biden inherited a May deadline from the Trump administration to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan. Experts are warning that doing so could have dire consequences for Afghan and U.S. security, but Biden also faces domestic political pressures from those who say it is far past time to end America’s longest war.

During the presidential campaign, Biden promised to end so-called forever wars, but also said he would leave a small number of special forces in countries such as Afghanistan to conduct counterterrorism missions.

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Since taking office, the Biden administration has said only that Afghanistan is one of the many policies it is reviewing in its early days. But the administration could be forced to make a decision sooner rather than later with a key NATO meeting in two weeks.

“As an administration, we have to decide, and we are reviewing, what we’re doing in Afghanistan,” Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said at a Friday briefing. “We’re reviewing the Doha agreement. We’re reviewing the compliance with the Doha agreement. We have recommitted ourselves to a political solution. We don’t believe there’s a military solution. And that process of review is ongoing.”

Kirby also noted the mid-February NATO defense ministerial that Defense Secretary Lloyd AustinLloyd AustinSenate panel advances Biden’s pick for Pentagon No. 2 position Overnight Defense: Biden announces end to US support for offensive operations in Yemen | Pentagon orders mask-wearing indoors and out | Military COVID deaths mounting Pentagon mandates masks for all personnel working indoors and outdoors MORE will participate in, saying “obviously” Afghanistan “will be a key topic of discussion inside that venue, as well.”

U.S. forces have been in Afghanistan since they invaded in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

After inheriting the war from former President George W. Bush, former President Obama at first surged thousands of more troops into a war he felt was neglected after the Iraq War started. But Obama then declared an end to combat operations in 2014 with hopes to withdraw by the end of his presidency.

Ultimately, though, Obama reversed plans to withdraw on the advice of his military advisers, leaving office with about 8,000 troops in Afghanistan.

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Former President TrumpDonald TrumpTwitter permanently suspends Gateway Pundit founder’s account Wyoming Republican Party censures Cheney over Trump impeachment vote Trump access to intelligence briefings will be determined by officials, White House says: report MORE railed against foreign entanglements as part of his “America First” agenda. But he, too, at first sent thousands more troops back to Afghanistan.

But Trump also initiated direct talks with the Taliban, resulting in an agreement that was signed in Doha, Qatar, last year that dictates a full U.S. military withdrawal by May if the insurgents uphold certain commitments.

U.S. military officials repeatedly said the Taliban was not upholding its commitments. But Trump continued to draw down anyway, leaving office with about 2,500 troops there — the lowest level since 2001, but still short of his desire for a complete withdrawal.

Under the agreement, the Taliban is supposed to deny safe haven to terrorist groups intent on attacking the West, including al Qaeda. U.S. officials also expect the Taliban to reduce attacks on Afghan forces and participate in good-faith peace talks with the Afghan government.

The Taliban has yet to break with al Qaeda, according to U.S. military officials. And far from reducing violence, the Taliban has stepped up its attacks on Afghan forces.

From October to December, enemy-initiated attacks in Afghanistan were higher than during the same period in 2019, according to a Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction report released Monday. Among the trends in the Taliban’s violence at the end of 2020 was “an uptick in targeted assassinations of Afghan government officials, civil-society leaders and journalists,” according to the report.

In particular, the number of attacks in Kabul was “much higher” than the previous year, U.S. Forces Afghanistan told the inspector general. The increase includes attacks from both the Taliban and Afghanistan’s ISIS affiliate.

Meanwhile, intra-Afghan talks have been halting, at best. The start of the talks was delayed six months amid a political dispute in Kabul and hesitation from the Afghan government at a prisoner swap. Even after the two sides first sat down in September, it took until December to agree on just the procedures for the negotiations.

With the Taliban having yet to live up to its commitments, a bipartisan panel commissioned by Congress recommended this past week Biden indefinitely delay the May withdrawal. While a delay does risk the Taliban increasing violence further, the Afghanistan Study Group warned the country “is highly likely to fall into chaos” if the administration pushes forward with a “calculated” withdrawal or “create the sort of threats that imperil U.S. security” if it decides on a quick withdrawal.

Retired Gen. Joseph Dunford, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and a co-chair of the panel, said he is hoping the Biden administration’s eventual decision will “move beyond the narrative of what’s been characterized as a forever war.”

“The fact of the matter is we’ve got 2,500 Americans on the ground right now, and the strategy is by, with and through the Afghan National Defense Security Forces. So I think that’s an important part of the message in getting bipartisan support,” he told reporters. “We’re already down to 2,500, so we made it clear to everybody that our patience is not infinite.”

But Biden will also have to contend with members of his own party who say it is time to leave Afghanistan.

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Rep. Ro KhannaRohit (Ro) KhannaOvernight Defense: Biden announces end to US support for offensive operations in Yemen | Pentagon orders mask-wearing indoors and out | Military COVID deaths mounting Biden announces end to US support for offensive operations in Yemen Democrats offer bill to provide tax relief to unemployment recipients MORE (D-Calif.) scoffed at the Afghanistan Study Group report, saying “the big names in American foreign policy have made some of the biggest mistakes of the last 20 years.”

“President Biden needs to spend less time listening to the fancy names who came out with this report, and he needs to go to places like Scranton, and listen to what people there are saying,” Khanna said in an interview. “I trust President Biden’s judgment. If he listens to people that he grew up with, that he campaigned with, that trust him, I think he will make the right judgment, as opposed to listening to the people who got us into this mess.”

Khanna advocated for withdrawing from Afghanistan with a warning to the Taliban that the United States will come back with “overwhelming” force if there is a threat to the homeland, arguing that would be a “very powerful” deterrent. Diplomacy toward an agreement between the Taliban and Afghan government should also continue, he added.

“There is no perfect solution in safeguarding peace and human rights in Afghanistan,” he said. “We have to get out and do the best we can to stand up for human rights through diplomacy, understanding that it’s not going to be perfect.”

After the release of the Afghanistan Study Group report, the State Department reiterated that a review of the U.S.-Taliban agreement is ongoing, adding that it is “deeply appreciative” of the panel’s “thoughtful work” and looks “forward to closely examining the recommendations contained in the comprehensive report.”

The Pentagon did not comment directly on the report, but likewise reiterated a review of the agreement is ongoing.

In the Pentagon’s first briefing of the Biden administration in January, Kirby also said the Taliban has “not met their commitments,” adding that “without them meeting their commitments to renounce terrorism and to stop the violent attacks on the Afghan National Security Forces, and by dint of that the Afghan people, it’s very hard to see a specific way forward for the negotiated settlement.”

On Friday, Austin spoke with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. Kirby would not say whether the two discussed the May deadline, but said they spoke about “the importance of the peace process, and they talked about the importance of this being Afghan-led. They talked about the enduring commitment that we have to Afghanistan writ large.”

A federal judge on Monday allowed a Proud Boys leader who faces charges relating to the Capitol riot to be released despite prosecutors’ warnings that he could plan future attacks on the federal government.

Magistrate Judge Brian Tsuchida determined that Ethan Nordean, 30, who faces four counts related to the Capitol raid, should be released pending trial, with a nightly curfew and restrictions on travel and communication with other witnesses, CNN reported. 

The Seattle-based judge’s order did not involve home detention, GPS monitoring or a monetary bail amount for Nordean, who has described himself  as the “Sergeant of Arms” of the Seattle chapter of the Proud Boys.

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“While you are out, you must maintain good conduct,” Tsuchida said on Monday.

Justice Department prosecutors had argued that if Nordean was released, he could work with the Proud Boys to plan a different attack or potentially flee the state. They signaled they would appeal his release. 

“There is no reason to believe that Defendant, or any of his Proud Boy associates, are any more interested in ‘complacency,’ or any less interested in fomenting rebellion, than they were on January 5,” prosecutors wrote in a legal memo, according to CNN.

“Releasing Defendant to rejoin their fold and plan their next attack poses a potentially catastrophic risk of danger to the community,” the prosecutors added.

Nordean’s attorney claimed that his client was not “a danger” and was not preparing to escape the state. 

“Mr. Nordean’s alleged membership in the Proud Boys does not make him a danger to others or the community,” his defense team wrote, according to CNN. “While the government devotes a portion of its lengthy memorandum to the statements and actions of other alleged members of the Proud Boys, none of the footage suggests that Mr. Nordean himself was involved in anything more serious or sinister.”

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Nordean was charged with obstructing or impeding an official proceeding, aiding and abetting, and entering restricted grounds, according to a complaint filed  last week.

The Justice Department accuses Nordean of preparing for the Capitol breach by gearing up and gathering money, according to records found in his home. Prosecutors said he was seen leading a Proud Boys group into D.C. and was seen going inside the Capitol. 

Other members of the far-right group have been charged in connection to the riot that resulted in five deaths, including Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick.

Canada declared the Proud Boys as a terrorist group last week in the wake of the Capitol attack.

The Proud Boys became more well-known after former President TrumpDonald TrumpDOJ to seek resignations of most Trump-appointed US attorneys: report Trump attorney withdraws request to not hold impeachment trial on Saturday Kinzinger in op-ed calls on GOP senators to convict Trump in impeachment trial MORE declined to condemn them at a presidential debate last fall, instead saying, “Stand back and stand by,” which some members perceived as support.  

Two Proud Boys members who have been named as suspects affiliated with the Capitol riot that took place on Jan. 6 pleaded not guilty to the charges against them, despite the wide circulation of a video on social media that placed both men at the scene.

Dominic Pezzola, 43, and William Pepe, 31, who are both members of the far-right extremist group, pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and interfering with officers who were protecting the Capitol, USA Today reported.

Both Pezzola and Pepe reportedly led a group of rioters supporting former President TrumpDonald TrumpSchoen says Trump team will be ‘very well prepared’ after criticism Iowa Republicans seek to cut funding for schools with 1619 Project in curriculum Capitol rioter seen smoking in Rotunda arrested MORE into the Capitol and removed metal barricades to allow more people to enter.

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Court documents also state that Pezzola “ripped away the officer’s riot shield, while the officer was physically engaging with individuals who had gathered unlawfully in the west plaza of the Capitol,” according to USA Today.

“Pezzola can be seen on video that has been widely distributed, using that riot shield to smash a window at the U.S. Capitol,” prosecutors said.

Both men are among the Proud Boys members and multiple others to be charged after storming the Capitol last month.

On Monday, a federal judge released Proud Boys leader Ethan Nordean, who faces charges relating to the Capitol riot, pending trial.