“Several members of the board have been terminated by form letter. In my experience I was very surprised that the White House, at eleven o’clock, would adjust the advisory board to a record of 19 years of non-partisan support. Department,” Michael Byrne Was the chairman, Politico said.
“Such a move puts a heavy weight on the people on the future and will prepare them to serve on this outside advisory board if they face tests of political loyalty. It is unprecedented. I am just saddened.” .
This shocked the boarding members, who had not received any negative feedback or warnings before their termination. A former board member lamented the move, saying the board had “never been political.”
“You are talking about 15, 20 officials, businessmen, government leaders who are giving their time to serve the country and not even a thank you note,” the person said on condition of anonymity. “It’s just about simple gratitude and appreciation for people.”
Other members on Friday included Atul Vashisht, vice-chairman of the board, founder and chairman of the Neo Group; Retired Vice Admin. Dave Venet; And David Van Sleek, dean of Citizen Citizenship and Public Affairs at Maxwell School of Syquez University.
It was not immediately clear how many board members were fired. “I had no indication that this was coming. It was a form letter written to a large number of people, I don’t know how many people got it,” Bayer said.
Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman could not be reached for comment. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. A White House spokesman said he did not comment on the staff.
The Defense Business Board is made up of more than a dozen industry and academic leaders who volunteer to provide independent business advice to the Pentagon leadership and are appointed by the Pentagon’s top leaders.
The Board has completed reviews of defense agencies and field activities with a study of how to use data analytics in the private sector and apply to DOD. The group also recommended removing the post of chief management officer and replacing it with a new one, which was voted on this week as the final National Defense Authorization Act.
“DBB is a workhorse board, not a show horse board,” said another former member.
The White House also passed the news to about a dozen members of the Defense Policy Board to a similar advisory committee of experts from outside the government, the Foreign Policy Report said. Officials have stepped up the effort, which includes former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Madeleine Albright, as well as former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor.
The firing comes less than a month after President Donald Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Asper, followed by the resignation of the Secretary of Defense’s chief of staff and top intelligence and policy officials.
Brian Bender contributed to this report.
