Defense Policy Board to meet on Ukraine

The Defense Policy Board is slated to meet in closed session June 7 and June 8 to receive classified briefings from senior Pentagon officials about the conflict in Ukraine, according to a Federal Register notice issued this morning.

The board, a key Pentagon advisory group, will be addressed by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks and Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl.

“The board will receive classified briefings on (1) implementation of the National Defense Strategy and integrated deterrence; (2) a current intelligence briefing on Ukraine; (3) a discussion on the Ukrainian security environment; (4) a budget priority briefing and (5) discussions on the briefings in a classified session with the Secretary, and the Under Secretary of Defense,” the notice states.

The board was re-established last September following a “zero-base” review and allegations that former President Trump had removed members and installed political loyalists.

The board’s current membership includes former Defense Secretary Ash Carter, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Michèle Flournoy, retired Army four-star Jack Keane and others.

The previous chairman of the board was former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who died in March. A new chair has not yet been named.