Pentagon watchdog to review 'nuclear football' safety procedures after January 6 incident
By Barbara Starr and Ellie Kaufman, CNN
Updated 5:14 PM ET, Tue July 20, 2021
(CNN)The Department of Defense inspector general is launching a review of the Pentagon's and White House's ability to keep the "nuclear football" secure during a crisis, following an incident on January 6 when rioters came within 100 feet of the backup "football."
The inspector general will evaluate the policies and procedures around the Presidential Emergency Satchel, also known as the "nuclear football," in the event that it is "lost, stolen, or compromised," according to an announcement from the DoD IG's office.
The "nuclear football" stays close to the president at all times. There is a backup "football" that stays close to the vice president in the event that the president is unable to carry out his nuclear launch responsibilities. The briefcase contains equipment and decision-making papers that the president or, in the event the president is not able to, the vice president needs to authenticate orders for and to launch a nuclear strike.
The review was largely precipitated by congressional concerns following the events of January 6 on Capitol Hill, when rioters came within 100 feet of then-Vice President Mike Pence and the military aide accompanying him carrying the backup "football," according to several defense officials.
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https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/20/politics/dod-ig-nuclear-football-review/index.html
