Experts in the News | Miller Center

Congress Should Recommit to Civilian Control of the Military

Retired Gen. Lloyd Austin’s nomination to become the nation’s 28th secretary of defense is an important historical milestone marking the first appointment of an African American to the position. Given his accomplishments, and considering that we’re in a moment when white nationalist and racist forces are attacking our democracy, it is easy to see the appeal of a swift confirmation. That said, his Senate confirmation requires a second, related action from Congress: to waive a long-standing law that prohibits former military officers from serving as secretary unless seven years have passed since their retirement. Both chambers approved a waiver on Thursday, paving the way for his confirmation. This approach leaves the law and our republic’s longstanding principle of civilian control over the military severely wounded.

Eric Edelman

Impeachment

A practical path to condemn and disqualify Donald Trump

Time has come for Congress to contemplate how to hold Donald Trump accountable for his efforts to overthrow the election and incite an insurrection. After all, the last time American citizens made such a concerted, violent effort to overthrow U.S. leaders was in April 1865, when a group of conspirators murdered President Abraham Lincoln and attacked other members of his Cabinet.

Lawfare

Chris Lu: Getting money for vaccines and testing is ‘critical’

The president will sign two executive orders on COVID economic relief today. Former Deputy Labor Secretary Chris Lu and Washington Post Economics Correspondent Heather Long join Stephanie Ruhle to discuss why it is just a band-aid unless the Senate gets on board.

Chris Lu

Another challenge for the Biden administration: thousands of federal appointments

“We do this odd thing of basically lopping off the top of the pyramid of our senior employees across the federal government and asking presidents to make roughly 4,000 political appointments,” said Katherine Dunn-Tenpas, a senior fellow at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center. “And of the 4,000, roughly 1,300 or so require Senate confirmation,” she said. “So that’s an arduous task,” especially if the opposing party in the Senate decides to slow things down.

Kathryn Dunn Tenpas

‘This is the cost of ignoring white supremacy’: discussion on Capitol insurrection, criminal justice reform kicks off two-week MLK celebration

The Miller Center contributed to the Division for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’s annual two-week community celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Tuesday with a virtual discussion entitled “Race Relations and Criminal Justice in the New Year.” Kevin Gaines, African American and African Studies professor, was joined by Paul Butler, Georgetown University law professor and legal analyst on MSNBC, to discuss the aftermath of the Capitol insurrection and criminal justice reform.

Kevin Gaines

‘This is the cost of ignoring white supremacy’: discussion on Capitol insurrection, criminal justice reform kicks off two-week MLK celebration

Miller Center Director William Antholis opened the event by introducing this year’s Community MLK Celebration theme — “Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?" based on King’s book of the same title. Antholis compared calls for racial justice and equity in the 1950s and 1960s to the same demands occuring today, nearly nine months after Minneapolis police officers murdered George Floyd.

William Antholis