The Pentagon has halted all participation in think-tank and research events until further notice, according to an internal email sent to staff last Thursday. The move follows the Department of Defense’s decision to withdraw from the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado, an event historically attended by high-ranking defense and military officials, including several former Defense Secretaries. The DoD cited “the evil of globalism” and claimed the forum no longer reflects the values of the Trump administration.

The abrupt decision came just hours before the forum was set to begin, leaving several scheduled speakers—including Navy Secretary John Phelan, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Emil Michael, and Defense Innovation Unit Director Doug Beck—unable to participate.

In addition to the blanket suspension, the Pentagon’s Public Affairs Office has launched a comprehensive review of all external events involving defense officials. This includes major conferences like the Sea-Air-Space expo hosted by the Navy League and the Halifax International Security Forum in Canada, long a fixture on the calendar for U.S. Secretaries of Defense.

Going forward, all participation requests will require pre-approval from the Pentagon’s Public Affairs, General Counsel, and Policy Offices, with officials’ remarks and talking points to be submitted in advance. “To ensure the Department of Defense does not lend its name or credibility to organizations or events that contradict the values of this administration, a thorough vetting process will now be conducted for all external engagements,” said Chief Pentagon Spokesperson Sean Parnell.