Sabrina Singh (00:00):
Served as a critical international coalition, coordinating the swift and sustained delivery of security assistance to Ukraine. Under Secretary Austin's leadership, this group has grown to include some 50 countries from all around the world, all united behind the common cause of supporting Ukraine in its fight for freedom. As you heard the secretary say yesterday, the UDCG has developed into an arsenal of Ukrainian democracy and an engine of global security. That's why you saw Secretary Austin announce a new $500 million presidential drawdown package in support of Ukraine and why, together, UDCG members have committed more than $126 billion in security assistance for this fight. And under Secretary Austin's leadership, this remarkable level of teamwork has paid off. Russia has suffered more than 700,000 casualties and the Russian economy is struggling to keep up with the UDCG's support to Ukraine. And even as Moscow leans now on North Korea to support its war of choice, Putin has failed to achieve a single strategic objective.
(01:03)
Secretary Austin reiterated that our international coalition to support Ukraine must not flinch. Even as the secretary's tenure is coming to an end, today, 14 countries and Ukraine lead the UDCG's eight capability coalitions, which focus on bolstering the capabilities of Ukraine's future force. Yesterday, UDCG members endorsed each of the capability coalitions roadmaps, which lay out a sustainable approach to helping meet both Ukraine's long-term and near-term capability needs. Secretary Austin said it best, that the structure of this coalition is, quote, "built to succeed, built to adapt, and built to last.
(01:41)
And now let me turn to the devastating wildfires in California. Secretary Austin continues to monitor the situation and the department remains prepared to support response efforts as needed. Currently, over 600 California National Guardsmen are activated, including 14 hand crews for fuel mitigation, 200 military police for security operations, and 10 helicopters for firefighting and search and rescue operations. This number is expected to increase over the next 24 hours. In addition, eight Modular Aerial Firefighting Systems, or MAFFS, equipped C-130 aircraft are being activated under state authorities. The first two are expected to begin operations today, and the remaining six are expected to be ready by Sunday. March Air Reserve Base is serving as the staging base for FEMA, and the defense coordinating officer and element are being activated to support the effort.
(02:37)
As announced by the president, 500 active-duty personnel currently stationed at Camp Pendleton, California are preparing to support requests from federal and state authorities with root clearance, commodity distribution, search and rescue, rotary wing airlift, and general support as requested. Earlier this week, you heard me announce that the department is preparing 10 Navy helicopters with water delivery buckets to immediately assist with aerial suppression. Under a long-standing memorandum of agreement with CAL FIRE, active duty units in Naval Region Southwest are prepared to provide aircraft and aircrew to support the firefighting efforts. These units are trained in annually certified by CAL FIRE to provide supplemental firefighting capability when requested by the state of California and approved by the secretary.
(03:24)
It's important to remember that the department is in a supporting role for this response with FEMA, leading and coordinating federal response and assistance. We are actively planning and preparing capabilities and resources and are working closely with FEMA, the State of California, to provide support and to ensure a unified response to the wildfires.
(03:44)
And with that, I'd be happy to take your questions. I'll go to the phone. I believe we have AP joining us on the phones.
(03:49)
Lita Baldor.
Lita Baldor (03:51):
Hi, Sabrina. Thank you very much. I just wanted to just clarify, you talked about the 500 active duty. Those are all Marines; is that accurate? And do you know if they have gotten their orders? If they have started? Can you just give us a little precision on that?
(04:09)
And then on the 10 helicopters that you talked about the other day, last I knew, the orders still had not been cut. Do you know if those orders have been cut and if they're actively moving on that yet? Thank you.
Sabrina Singh (04:22):
Yeah. Thanks, Lita, for the question. So on both questions, we are actively preparing and standing by to support the State of California as they request that support.
(04:31)
On the 500 personnel, you asked, I believe, if they were active duty. And the units that will be going, or the 500 personnel that would be going, all consist of active-duty Marines from I MEF. And I think I gathered all your questions there.
(04:48)
All right. Coming into the room. Louie.
Louie (04:52):
Is this an example of the Department being proactive in placing units on standby? Because, as you know, no taskings, no water has been going and gone out yet. So that doesn't indicate this LA or CAL FIRE or the state has actually requested these assets, aside from the California National Guard. So is that the best way to characterize this?
Sabrina Singh (05:18):
So part of this is, as the secretary… To borrow a phrase that the secretary uses, being in a three point stance so that we can surge capabilities and assets immediately into the state as the state and as the governor's office request these capabilities. You've seen the president announce some of these, including the authorization of these 500 service members that can go and assist with a variety of capabilities into the State of California.
(05:47)
But absolutely, it is a combination of being ready so that we can surge assets in. And then also working with FEMA, which will be the coordinator of all the federal response and the State of California in meeting their needs. And I've certainly gotten this question of why aren't you rushing assets in right away? Why isn't the military putting all of their forces right now on the ground? We have to work with the state. So as the state requests resources, as the State of California requests capabilities, we are standing by and ready to support, but we absolutely have to work with the state, and the state and the Governor is going to know best on how to use our assets. So we're working with CAL FIRE. We have a great partner in them.
Louie (06:34):
And is there also an issue of having to train some of these troops in fire suppression since that's not a normal tasking?
Sabrina Singh (06:40):
Well, some of this, as I think you heard me mention at the top, especially with the Navy helicopters, we have a memorandum of agreement. So there is, yes, some training component that goes in, and certification that CAL FIRE needs to do in order to allow these firefighting capabilities to be implemented in the state. So yes, there is a level of certification and training, but we're standing by, we're standing by ready to support. And as I mentioned earlier, you've already seen, or you're going to see, some of the MAFFS being operational today, with some more coming in this weekend.
(07:19)
Charlie, and then I'll come.
Charlie (07:20):
Okay. Well, it kind of leads on to that too.
Sabrina Singh (07:22):
Sure.
Charlie (07:23):
And this is from my own curiosity. The Navy helicopters, if I understood the other question earlier, they're not in the air?
Sabrina Singh (07:31):
We are preparing to support, but we are working with the State of California on where they need to go. So again, this is the president, the secretary, the authorization has been given, but we have to work with California in when they get up in the air and how they're best utilized.
Charlie (07:47):
Where are they?
Sabrina Singh (07:49):
The Navy helicopters will be coming… You're asking where they're being sourced from? So units in the Navy Region Southwest are providing aircraft and aircrew from Naval Station North Island, Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
Charlie (08:09):
Okay. And my last question, again, leading onto that. To put it in military terms: forward-postured, I think, is the way it would be described, right?
Sabrina Singh (08:19):
Sure. Yeah.
Charlie (08:21):
So to Louie's point, you've got personnel who are ready and trained, but this is the DOD's own initiative on anticipating a request that they might be needed to.
Sabrina Singh (08:33):
Yeah.
Charlie (08:35):
That's how-
Sabrina Singh (08:35):
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, we're a planning organization. We plan for a variety of things. We plan for a requests to be made for states. And NORTHCOM has to be able to quickly be able to allocate resources and people, while maintaining their day-to-day roles and responsibilities and jobs. So the commander of NORTHCOM has to think about all of this and anticipate some of the requests that we could get from states when it comes to floods, fires, any natural disaster. What we're seeing in California, I mean, these fires are ranging in different sizes and all throughout the state, so of course the commander is going to make the decision to move and prepare assets so when the state requests it, we're ready to go. There's not a lag in time. Does that help?
Charlie (09:28):
Are there more MAFFS available if necessary?
Sabrina Singh (09:30):
Right now, this is what's been allocated and requested. Again, we can always see support change as things go on. But right now, this is all I have to read out this time.
(09:42)
Warren.
Warren (09:43):
I just wanted to be clear on this. What, so far, has California requested? You've said they've requested the MAFFS?
Sabrina Singh (09:49):
The MAFFS are-
Warren (09:49):
Have they requested more or is everything else just you getting ready in case they do request?
Sabrina Singh (09:55):
So I'm not going to… As you can appreciate, I'm not going to speak for California and all of their requests. We're not the only agency that they are making these requests to. I think it's also important to note that, with any natural disaster, like what we saw in North Carolina later last year, is FEMA is going to be central in coordinating federal assistance. And I think what's important here is also everything remains so fluid.
(10:20)
So California, with all these different fires, has to assess how they are allocating their own resources from CAL FIRE, and then also knitting together what DOD assets can be provided. And not to use a sports analogy here, but you don't want to rush all your players onto the football field without having a strategy. And that's what we don't want to see happen here. You don't want to see a clog, you don't want to see resources being diverted to one fire when actually they need to go somewhere else. So that's why we're working with the state, with FEMA, and getting some of the MAFFS ready that will be operational today. Some will be going in over the weekend. And then of course we have our personnel, additional helicopters standing by to support.
Warren (11:02):
Are there outstanding requests from California?
Sabrina Singh (11:04):
I think anything that California is going to request, as the president has said, we're going to rise and meet those requests and work with the state with what they need. But I think what's important to remember is we are knitting in to FEMA who is leading the federal response. So I'm not aware that anything that has been requested from the State of California to the Department hasn't been met. But again, we're working with FEMA and California to meet their needs.
Warren (11:35):
Very quick Ukraine question. The 500 million-
Sabrina Singh (11:39):
Excuse me, I'm sorry. I just have a-
Warren (11:40):
Of course.
(11:40)
The 500 million, how much unused presidential drawdown authority will be transferred or transitioned to the next administration?
Sabrina Singh (11:48):
So it'll be just under… Oh, my tablet stopped working. But it'll be just under… No, it's okay. Don't worry. It'll be just under 4 billion that will be left in authority that the next administration will get the opportunity to use for Ukraine.
(12:02)
Yes, Constantine.
Constantine (12:03):
Thanks. So going back to the response for a second. So on Wednesday, you said… And I'm looking at my log of the briefing, the Department is sending 10 Navy helicopters with water delivery buckets to immediately assist. And that's what we reported. And members of Congress, Representative Scott Peters, yesterday thanked the Navy for sending the helicopters. And now you're telling us the helicopters have yet to actually show up. So I mean, acknowledging, as you say, the intricacies of federal versus state authorities, nonetheless, where did this breakdown occur in terms of the messaging of we're sending the helicopters, to the helicopters are coming.
Sabrina Singh (12:51):
Fair parsing of words and appreciate my words being read back to me. Look, we are going to do everything we need to to support California in whatever requests that they make. And the president has directed this department to surge capabilities to California. These helicopters are standing by, they're preparing and ready to go for when California is ready to receive them. So by sending fair criticism, could I have said, is preparing to send? I'll take that.
(13:28)
Again, they're standing by to assist with aerial suppression. They are getting certified also by CAL FIRE and we have this longstanding memorandum of agreement. So what I can tell you is there's so many different fires raging… Sorry, I have this tickle that I cannot get rid of. So many different fires raging in California. We have to work in coordination with the state and FEMA when it comes to how we address each single fire. And not just the fires, it's the road clearing, it's the management, it's how people get back into their homes. All of this knits together very carefully in an intricate way that is going to take a little time, it's going to take some coordinating. And again, when someone else asked this, you just don't want to surge a bunch of capability and resources into a region without a full plan. So that's what we're doing and we're working very closely with the state to make sure that we're getting their needs met.
Constantine (14:25):
Okay.
Charlie (14:25):
Sabrina.
Sabrina Singh (14:26):
Can I just… I think Constantine had one more.
Constantine (14:28):
So just if I'm understanding what you're saying, extrapolating from what you're telling me, is that there hasn't been any issue in NORTHCOM cutting orders.
Sabrina Singh (14:37):
Correct.
Constantine (14:37):
There hasn't been any delays. You guys are being methodical in this approach and we'll attribute Wednesday to an imprecise use of language?
Sabrina Singh (14:49):
Yeah, that's it.
Liz (14:51):
Hey, Sabrina?
Sabrina Singh (14:52):
Yeah, Liz.
Liz (14:53):
Just real quick, a follow-up on that.
Sabrina Singh (14:53):
Sure.
Liz (14:54):
So you just said DOD doesn't want to surge resources without a plan. Can you explain then why-
Sabrina Singh (15:00):
Without a plan with California, in working with California? Yeah.
Liz (15:05):
Yeah, no. Of course. So why did US Northern Command send the eight C-130s to California when California hasn't used its own two C-130s it already has?
Sabrina Singh (15:14):
So the MAFFS are coming from… I mean, I think those were requested, Liz. But let me just do one quick check here. I just want to make sure that I get this right. The MAFFS, I believe, were requested, and they're being activated under state authorities. So this was something that was urgently needed right away. Some of them are being put to use as early as today, some more for the weekend. What I said was about surging capabilities. We are going to work with California with whatever they need when it comes to addressing these fires happening on the ground. But we have to do it in a way that is methodical and in a way that fits in with CAL FIRE's efforts, doesn't overlap or take away from any efforts that are ongoing on the ground. And at the end of the day, we are at the direction of the state and of the governor. So FEMA is leading the federal response and we are fitting into that federal response.
Liz (16:19):
Sorry, just to clarify.
Sabrina Singh (16:20):
Yeah.
Liz (16:20):
You said MAFFS. Do you mean, is that interchangeable with C-130?
Sabrina Singh (16:24):
That's the eight MAFF C-130s. That's right.
Liz (16:28):
Okay.
Sabrina Singh (16:29):
Yeah. The MAFF-equipped C-130 aircraft.
Liz (16:33):
Okay, got it. Thank you.
Sabrina Singh (16:33):
Yeah. Charlie had one, and then I'll come over here. Yep. And then I'm going to go to the phone.
Charlie (16:36):
I just need to drill down because Americans, especially people in California, were saying, well, what is taking so long? So not pointing the finger of blame at why has it taken so long, but they're still fighting these fires. You have grounded aircraft that are capable of doing it. The air situation has been more benevolent in recent days than it has so that the wind has died down. Is this a question that we put to the governor of California or to the DOD?
Sabrina Singh (17:07):
Well, Charlie, first, for the people of California. I mean, I'm from LA. I'm from the area where these fires are hitting. I mean, my parents-
Charlie (17:14):
[inaudible 00:17:15].
Sabrina Singh (17:15):
Yeah. My parents' homes is absolutely… They have a car packed and ready to go. They're seeing the smoke, they're seeing the ash fall. I think this is… For anyone that's on the ground that's seeing the devastation that these fires are causing, it's absolutely heartbreaking. So I think, first and foremost, we understand what the people of… Los Angelenos, Californians are experiencing right now. It's important to note here that the Department is not the lead for these efforts. The state is the lead when it comes to this ever-changing, very fluid situation on the ground, just as other states have been for other natural disasters that have occurred over time, whether it be Hawaii, North Carolina, Florida. The states are always in the lead.
(18:07)
DOD is in a supporting role. And I think it's just really important to remember that we are supporting the state's efforts and FEMA's efforts and FEMA is coordinating the federal assistance and response like any type of emergency like this. So we're going to continue to work with the lead agencies with the state of California to plan and anticipate needs. That's what you're seeing the commander of Northern Command do, that's what you're seeing the secretary do here as well. And of course, the president has directed this department to be agile and to support California with what it needs during this time. Does that help? Okay, great.
Charlie (18:44):
It doesn't answer why those aircrafts are still on the ground where they should be in the air.
Sabrina Singh (18:47):
Again, there are two going up today. Hold on. There are two going up today, there's six more going up this weekend. We are standing by to support as needed with California, as California requests. But we absolutely cannot just surge assets into an area without a plan. We can get as many aircraft if we want up in the air if needed, but if we don't have a plan to attack a fire, then that aircraft is not going to do much good. So we have to work with the state, we have to work with the governor. Most importantly, we're the supporting role here. So we're working with FEMA in the plans that they're putting together. I'm going to go to the phones then I'll come back in the room here.
(19:25)
Heather, USI.
Heather (19:27):
Great. Two questions. One on this response, what requests exactly has the DOD received from FEMA or from California in terms of sending helicopters or military service members?
(19:39)
And then a question on the Houthis. The Houthis are claiming that they attacked Truman again today and also that central command struck Houthi sites ahead of the January 8th strikes that CENTCOM announced. Any confirmation of either one of those?
Sabrina Singh (19:56):
Yeah. Thanks, Heather.
(19:57)
So on the Houthis, again, really shocked by their disinformation on striking our ships in the region. There have been no attacks on our ships. In terms of your question on strikes, the most recent strikes that central command conducted were on January 8th that I read out here at the podium. We, of course, have conducted dynamic strikes, I think, over the maybe last few days as Houthis have launched, or we see them prepare to launch, missiles or UAVs at our ships or commercial vessels. We take those actions, those dynamic strikes. I think there were some as recently as yesterday.
(20:43)
In terms of your other question, look, I'm not going to read out everything that California and FEMA has requested. I can tell you what the Department is doing, which is, again, providing some of those MAFFS that you will see going into California today and over the weekend. And then we are also preparing additional forces to assist California with what they need. You heard the president speak to that, that that's our 500 personnel additional Navy helicopters that are going to knit into California's response to these fires.
(21:20)
With that, I will go to two more on the phone here.
(21:23)
Meredith, Janes Defense.
Meredith (21:26):
Hi, I have a question about the PDA package announced yesterday. Air to ground munitions were listed on the package and I was hoping if you could confirm if they have been provided in a previous package. And if not, then why now? And could you further confirm if those are the JASSM missiles?
Sabrina Singh (21:49):
Thanks, Meredith, for the question. In terms of what we provided, candidly, I don't have our release of everything that was listed in the PDA that was announced yesterday. No new capabilities were in there. We've provided some of these capabilities in the past. I'd direct you to the defense.gov website, which lists out everything that we provided in that package yesterday.
(22:12)
And Rahim, Kurdistan TV.
(22:17)
Okay. Don't think we have you.
(22:19)
Yes, Goyal.
Goyal (22:20):
I have two quick questions. One is, as far as national security is concerned, how much you think TikTok is dangerous for this building? Like Chinese or part of Chinese-owned Chinese Communist Party, and also so many activities by the Chinese were also going on around the US military facilities and all that?
Sabrina Singh (22:46):
Yeah. Appreciate the question, but that is obviously being litigated in the courts right now, so I'm not going to have anything to add on that one.
Goyal (22:53):
And second, India's foreign minister was here in Washington last week for almost a week. If he had any chance to meet and discuss anything US-India military-to-military relations here at the Pentagon.
Sabrina Singh (23:08):
I don't have any meetings to read out at this time. We always read those out, but nothing to read out here.
Goyal (23:13):
Thank you.
Sabrina Singh (23:14):
Yes.
Speaker 12 (23:16):
Thank you, Sabrina, the Syrian Democratic Force are suggesting if the US and French troops are deployed to the northern Syrian border, they can defuse the conflicts between the SDF and Turkish-backed forces. Is there any sort of talks going on and how do you look at it?
Sabrina Singh (23:35):
I am not aware of any joint patrols, if that's what you're alluding to with US, French, and SDF forces. No, I'm not aware of anything like that. Again, our presence in Syria remains in that eastern part of the country. We partner with the SDF. Obviously, you know our longstanding mission to defeat ISIS in Syria remains, but I don't think there's any truth to those reports.
(24:00)
Okay, great. One more and then I have one more thing to add at the end of this.
Charlie (24:06):
Okay. Yes. Just we all had questions about Syria because the troop numbers, as we know, well, at least acknowledging that there are more troops there, 2,000 troops. But there have also been some rumors, not only of movement and setting up semi-permanent structures, but they may be planning to pull out, if necessary, or is there-
Sabrina Singh (24:27):
Who's they?
Charlie (24:28):
The US troops that are there now.
Sabrina Singh (24:29):
Okay.
Charlie (24:30):
If ordered to by this new administration.
Sabrina Singh (24:32):
Oh.
Charlie (24:33):
So has there been any change in either the posture, the number, or the status of the troops there?
Sabrina Singh (24:39):
So let me adjust your question on the structures being set up. I think I talked about this on Wednesday, but if I can be more clear here, I will. The US is not setting up any type of basing or permanent structures in the Kobani region, which I think is what you're referencing. In terms of US presence and force posture, no changes. The incoming administration, can't speak for any decisions that they will make. But in terms of this administration, this secretary, no changes to force posture in Syria or Iraq. And the mission that they're there for still remains when it comes to ensuring the enduring defeat of ISIS.
(25:20)
Okay, so just very quickly, it's Friday, it's also my last briefing. So I just wanted to just take a few minutes to express my deep gratitude for those who have supported me on this journey. First and foremost, I deeply want to thank Secretary Austin for entrusting me with the incredible honor of standing up here, briefing all of you, representing the Department. It's truly been a privilege to be up here every single time that I've been able to do it, representing our men and women in uniform and our dedicated civilian workforce.
(25:58)
To my joint staff colleagues, thank you again so much for your unwavering support, your patience with all my questions, sharing your knowledge. You've made me better every single day because of that. To my OSDPA family, because we are a family. And so I thank you for that. To my DPO teammates, you're truly the heartbeat of this press team. Your patience, support, your friendship have really meant the world to me. You've challenged me, you've pushed me, you've given me confidence to stand up at this podium and to represent you all.
(26:36)
I just do have to shout out and give a special thank you to our ATSD Chris Meagher, Carlie Waibel, General Ryder, Colonel Devine, and Chris Garver, for all your help, support prepping me for all these briefings. It's been invaluable and I truly don't have the words to express my gratitude, so thank you.
(26:57)
To my lovely press colleagues in the room, you're indispensable to democracy. We've had our debates, our disagreements, our commiserations, our conversations. You've certainly challenged me. You never took it easy on me from day one, from my first off-camera gaggle, which you can go back and read the transcript on how rough that was, to where I am today. And even today, even having these conversations and these debates, you've pushed me to be better. And so I really respect all the work that you do. I appreciate all the work that you do, and just thank you deeply.
(27:35)
I've truly loved working here. So I've had the opportunity to work with the best people. This is the best team I've been a part of, and it's been an honor every single day that I get to stand up here. And so just thank you for everything and I'll leave it at that. Yeah. Oh, thank you.