Senate Democrats are pressing US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper over concerns over the Pentagon’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a letter Wednesday to Esper, nine senators called reports of an increase in cases among dissidents in July “concerning.”
The number of coronavirus infections reportedly increased by more than 21,000 a month – an increase of more than 100%.
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According to the department’s website, the Pentagon had reported a total of 53,033 coronavirus cases with 80 deaths as of Wednesday. Some 36,600 of those cases were members of the U.S. Army, and six members were killed.
The Hill reported Thursday that of the troops that died, one was a sailor with active duty, while the others were reservists as members of the National Guard.
“We are pleased to see that the department is taking some precautionary measures to tackle the spread of the virus, but are concerned that the department is still not prioritizing the health and well-being of our opponents,” the senators wrote.
The letter was signed by Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Mazie Hirono, Washington, Senator Patty Murray, Senator Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut, Senator Jeff Merkley, Oregon Senator Sherrod Brown, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey and Senator Amy Klobuchar in Minnesota.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper discussed the department’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic in a news conference in March. (Army Staff Sgt. Nicole Mejia / Department of Defense via AP)
The same group of senators – plus California Senator Kamala Harris – sent a similar letter in April expressing “serious concern”, which provoked a strong reaction from the Pentagon.
Esper himself issued a scathing reprimand during a news conference and sent a letter to Senate Committee on Armed Services Jim Inhofe, a Oklahoma Republican.
A letter published Thursday by Warren’s office revealed that the Pentagon also responded directly to the senators in May.
“It is unfortunate that your letter used invalid media reports that have been discredited to unfairly portray the department while we are in the midst of the COVID-19 battle,” said then-Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislature matters Robert Hood encouraged.
“To be clear, what we have done is work with some of the leading experts in the military and in the entire government to find the right balance of protecting our people and protecting America,” he wrote. .
In the Democratic senators’ Thursday letter, they wrote that they were “surprised” that Esper “would deviate. [their] concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on willingness and morale. ”
They said they were concerned about the department’s leadership, noting that cases “were rising at an alarming rate.”
Politicians also pointed out that May’s correspondence from Hood did not answer their specific questions about the department’s plan to tackle the pandemic while continuing operations.
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“Congress is ready to support the department, but we can not do that if basic questions are not answered regarding DoD’s response,” she wrote.
The Pentagon has not yet responded to a request for comment from Fox News.
