One thing the Trump administration is tops in: leaks

For which we can all be grateful.

A leaked Pentagon memo on Tuesday revealed that top Department of Defense (DOD) officials have been planning for the possibility that the military could be dealing with a “globally-persistent” coronavirus pandemic well into 2021.

The memo, obtained by Task & Purpose, also warned of the “real possibility” that a vaccine for COVID-19 won’t be available until “at least the summer of 2021.”

“We have a long path ahead, with the real possibility of a resurgence of COVID-19. Therefore, we must now re-focus our attention on resuming critical missions, increasing levels of activity, and making necessary preparations should a significant resurgence of COVID-19 occur later this year,” it read.

[...]

“All indications suggest we will be operating in a globally-persistent COVID-19 environment in the months ahead,” the memo read. “This will likely continue until there is wide-scale immunity, through immunization, and some immunity post-recovery from the virus.”

  The Hill

Heads will roll. Or at least one head. Namely, Kenneth Rapuano.

The new memo — which was unsigned but reportedly prepared by Kenneth Rapuano, assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and global security — adds to the skepticism that a coronavirus vaccine will be ready by early next year.

[...]

The document called for increased testing as well as a registry “to track and closely monitor outcomes of those infected with COVID-19.”

[...]

President Trump on Friday unveiled a federal task force in charge of an effort he hopes will produce a coronavirus vaccine by the end of the year, a presentation at which Defense Secretary Mark Esper also spoke.

“We will deliver, by the end of this year, a vaccine, at scale, to treat the American people and our partners abroad,” Esper said at the White House.

The Pentagon later clarified that Esper was merely announcing a goal and was not promising a vaccine by the end of 2020.

Excuse me? Where did he say this was "a goal"? "We will deliver," is what he said.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.