After halting 42 of the prior administration’s defense-related advisory boards back in February, 16 of Department of Defense’s (DoD) advisory boards have been cleared by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to restart work, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said at a press conference September 2.
While the resumption of the rest of the advisory boards is still being taken under consideration, the DoD’s zero-base review (ZBR) has completed its review for 16 boards that should be essential to the DoD’s strategic priorities.
“The ZBR Board has completed its work, presented their recommendations, and the Department is poised for many of the advisory committees to resume their essential work,” Kirby said. “The department’s boards and committees have been and will continue to be a valuable resource as we defend the nation, succeed through teamwork and take care of our people.”
Activity on the board was ceased on Feb. 3, which allowed Sec. Austin to clear house of members appointed to the prior administration and direct the review to take until all members of the committees and subcommittees had concluded their service.
The restarted advisory boards include the Defense Business Board, the Defense Policy Board, Defense Health Board, and the Defense Science Board. The other advisory boards cleared to restart work are the:
- DoD Board of Actuaries,
- Medicare-Eligible Board of Advisors,
- Defense Advisory Committee on Investigation, Prosecution, and Defense of Sexual Assault in the Armed Forces,
- Uniform Formulary Beneficiary Advisory Panel,
- Inland Waterways Users Board,
- DoD Wage Committee,
- Board on Coastal Engineering Research,
- Marine Corps University Board of Visitors,
- Department of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board,
- S. Strategic Command Strategic Advisory Group,
- Army Science Board, and
- Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services.
“The Secretary looks forward to working with many of these bodies personally and expects other department officials to do the same,” Kirby said.
