Defense

2021-09-24 18:27:02
by Dan McCue
House Approves Defense Authorization Act With Strong Bipartisan Support

WASHINGTON -- Members of the House might not agree on much these days, but one thing they do seem to... Read More

WASHINGTON -- Members of the House might not agree on much these days, but one thing they do seem to be in agreement on is that passing the annual defense spending authorization falls into the same rarified category as mom... Read More

2021-08-18 20:46:09
by Tom Ramstack
Inspector General Report Describes Intelligence Failings in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Defense Department officials on Wednesday afternoon acknowledged the kind of surprise about the fall of Afghanistan mentioned... Read More

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Defense Department officials on Wednesday afternoon acknowledged the kind of surprise about the fall of Afghanistan mentioned in a new inspector general’s report. “No, I did not see a collapse of an army of that size in... Read More

2021-08-18 20:42:25
by Reece Nations
Here’s How Much the Afghanistan War Cost Taxpayers

Costs associated with the United States' “Global War on Terror” have mounted significantly in the nearly 20 years following the... Read More

Costs associated with the United States' “Global War on Terror” have mounted significantly in the nearly 20 years following the Sept. 11 World Trade Center attacks. The underlying mission of the Global War on Terror in 2001 was to fortify... Read More

2021-07-23 15:53:48
by Brock Blasdell
DOD to Perform First Review of Private Contracts In Over 30 Years

WASHINGTON - The Department of Defense is conducting its first fiscal research study in over 30 years to determine the... Read More

WASHINGTON - The Department of Defense is conducting its first fiscal research study in over 30 years to determine the efficiency and overall health of the military industry and its private contractors. The decision comes as part of a push... Read More

2021-07-06 18:44:38
by Dan McCue
Stress, Loneliness Top Issues for Military Spouses

Spouses of military reservists feel they are healthy and financially comfortable, but more of them complained of stress and loneliness... Read More

Spouses of military reservists feel they are healthy and financially comfortable, but more of them complained of stress and loneliness in a survey released Tuesday by the Department of Defense. The survey of Reserve Component Spouses is conducted every two... Read More

2021-06-30 20:12:48
by Dan McCue
Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld Dies at 88

Donald Rumsfeld, the former defense secretary who ran the Pentagon when the U.S. launched wars against Iraq and Afghanistan, has... Read More

Donald Rumsfeld, the former defense secretary who ran the Pentagon when the U.S. launched wars against Iraq and Afghanistan, has died at the age of 88, his family announced Wednesday. The cause was multiple myeloma, said Keith Urbahn, a spokesman... Read More

2021-06-24 14:48:10
by Dan McCue
Blue Dogs Call for Increased Defense Funding, Prioritizing of National Defense

WASHINGTON - The Blue Dog Coalition of House Democrats is calling on its congressional colleagues to approve the Biden administration’s... Read More

WASHINGTON - The Blue Dog Coalition of House Democrats is calling on its congressional colleagues to approve the Biden administration’s $753 billion defense spending request for Fiscal Year 2022, saying the proposed $12.3 billion increase over last year will better... Read More

2021-06-24 14:30:50
by Reece Nations
Defense Supply Chain Management Systems Are Vulnerable, GAO Says

WASHINGTON — The Government Accountability Office issued a report this week addressing cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the Department of Defense inventory... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Government Accountability Office issued a report this week addressing cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the Department of Defense inventory management systems used to manage the national defense supply chain. Risks in six inventory management systems run by the Defense... Read More

2021-06-22 19:35:08
by Dan McCue
DOD Advised to Provide Congress With More Info On PFAS Costs

WASHINGTON - Despite being in the early phases of an investigation into PFAS contamination at nearly 700 U.S. military installations,... Read More

WASHINGTON - Despite being in the early phases of an investigation into PFAS contamination at nearly 700 U.S. military installations, the Department of Defense says the future environment clean-up of these facilities will cost at least $2.1 billion and likely... Read More

2021-06-10 13:07:39
by Dan McCue
Airstrikes Still a Possibility After Afghan Pullout

WASHINGTON — The Defense Department may seek authorization to carry out airstrikes if the capital of Kabul or any other... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Defense Department may seek authorization to carry out airstrikes if the capital of Kabul or any other major city in Afghanistan is in danger of falling to the Taliban after the U.S. completes the withdrawal of its... Read More

2021-06-09 17:24:09
by Reece Nations
Space Force to Lead Rocket Cargo Vanguard Program

WASHINGTON — The Department of the Air Force announced it has designated the United States Space Force as the lead... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Department of the Air Force announced it has designated the United States Space Force as the lead service for its “Rocket Cargo Vanguard Program,” a science and technology effort intended to determine the viability of large commercial... Read More

2021-05-25 19:18:06
by Daniel Mollenkamp
U.S. Military Expands Production of 'Low-Dead Space' Syringes

The Pentagon signed an agreement to expand the production of more efficient syringes, which it announced on Monday, as part... Read More

The Pentagon signed an agreement to expand the production of more efficient syringes, which it announced on Monday, as part of the country’s national response to coronavirus.  According to the agreement, the U.S. allocated $27.3 million in government funding to... Read More

2021-05-25 19:08:18
by Dan McCue
White House Opens Pacific Coast to Commercial-Scale Wind Farm Development

The Biden administration is opening up the northern and central coasts of California to the first commercial scale offshore wind... Read More

The Biden administration is opening up the northern and central coasts of California to the first commercial scale offshore wind farm projects in the region. The first location, called the Morro Bay 399 Area, is roughly 400 square miles off... Read More

2021-05-21 17:12:16
by Reece Nations
War Authorizations Repeal Bills Get Bipartisan Support

WASHINGTON — The House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday passed a pair of bills that would limit the president’s ability... Read More

WASHINGTON — The House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday passed a pair of bills that would limit the president’s ability to expand military operations in the Middle East by repealing decades-old Authorizations for the Use of Military Force, or AUMFs.... Read More

2021-05-20 13:00:48
by Tom Ramstack
Cyberattacks Anger Lawmakers As They Prepare a US Response

WASHINGTON -- Lawmakers who listened to Defense Department officials explain recent cyberthreats Friday gave unmistakable hints that some kind of... Read More

WASHINGTON -- Lawmakers who listened to Defense Department officials explain recent cyberthreats Friday gave unmistakable hints that some kind of large-scale U.S. response is coming soon. The hearing of the House Armed Services subcommittee on cyber, innovative technologies and information... Read More

2021-05-05 13:54:51
by Tom Ramstack
Defense Experts Warn of New Threats From Weapons of Mass Destruction

WASHINGTON -- Defense experts portrayed a bleak outlook Tuesday during a congressional hearing for risks to the United States and... Read More

WASHINGTON -- Defense experts portrayed a bleak outlook Tuesday during a congressional hearing for risks to the United States and the world from weapons of mass destruction. No recent example is better than the COVID-19 pandemic, which is fast approaching... Read More

2021-05-03 20:49:49
by Daniel Mollenkamp
Biden Terminates Diversion of Funds for Construction of Border Wall

WASHINGTON- The Biden administration has begun the process of canceling all sections of the border wall that were funded by... Read More

WASHINGTON- The Biden administration has begun the process of canceling all sections of the border wall that were funded by money diverted from military projects, in relation to a federal walk back of one of the Trump administration's principal policy... Read More

2021-04-15 17:52:43
by TWN Staff
Defense Department Seeks Comments on Supply Chain Risks for Critical Materials

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is seeking comments on risks to the supply chain for strategic and critical materials. In... Read More

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is seeking comments on risks to the supply chain for strategic and critical materials. In February, President Joe Biden signed an executive order directing the Defense Department and three other federal agencies to closely examine... Read More

2021-01-13 16:44:24
by Tom Ramstack
Senate Warned About Losing Civilian Control of Defense Dept.

WASHINGTON -- Expert witnesses described a deeply troubled Defense Department at a Senate hearing Tuesday as Congress tries to decide... Read More

WASHINGTON -- Expert witnesses described a deeply troubled Defense Department at a Senate hearing Tuesday as Congress tries to decide whether to approve a new leader for the U.S. military. They said the Defense Department has fallen victim to political... Read More

2020-12-30 18:56:25
by Reece Nations
Biden Announces New Department of Defense Nominees

WASHINGTON — President-elect Joe Biden announced Kathleen Hicks and Colin Kahl as his nominees for deputy secretary of defense and... Read More

WASHINGTON — President-elect Joe Biden announced Kathleen Hicks and Colin Kahl as his nominees for deputy secretary of defense and under secretary of defense for policy on Wednesday.  If confirmed to the positions, they are slated to join Secretary of... Read More

2020-12-23 21:01:48
by Dan McCue
Trump Defies Congress, Vetoes $740 Billion Defense Bill

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump made good on a threat Wednesday, vetoing the $740 billion National Defense Authorization Act. Congress... Read More

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump made good on a threat Wednesday, vetoing the $740 billion National Defense Authorization Act. Congress passed the fiscal year 2021 defense spending plan earlier this month with more than the two-thirds majority needed in both... Read More

Trump Must Decide Before Christmas Whether to Sign or Veto Massive Defense Bill

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump, who has threatened to veto the fiscal 2021 defense authorization bill, has until Dec. 23... Read More

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump, who has threatened to veto the fiscal 2021 defense authorization bill, has until Dec. 23 to either do so or sign it into law, congressional aides said Monday. The Senate cleared the $731.6 billion measure... Read More

Trump Says He Will Veto Defense Spending Bill Approved by Congress

President Donald Trump repeated his threat to veto the U.S. defense spending bill that last week won enough bipartisan support... Read More

President Donald Trump repeated his threat to veto the U.S. defense spending bill that last week won enough bipartisan support in Congress to easily overturn his opposition. “THE BIGGEST WINNER OF OUR NEW DEFENSE BILL IS CHINA!. I WILL VETO!”... Read More

2020-12-11 21:15:29
by Dan McCue
Senate Overwhelmingly Approves National Defense Authorization Act

WASHINGTON - The Senate, as expected, overwhelming endorsed a $740 billion national defense policy bill Friday, sending the measure on... Read More

WASHINGTON - The Senate, as expected, overwhelming endorsed a $740 billion national defense policy bill Friday, sending the measure on to the White House where president Trump threatened to veto it. Ignoring those threats, the Senate voted 84-12 in favor... Read More

2020-12-08 19:27:25
by Reece Nations
Congress Expected to Pass NDAA Without Provision for Space Force Reserve, National Guard

WASHINGTON — Although expected to pass with bicameral and bipartisan support, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021... Read More

WASHINGTON — Although expected to pass with bicameral and bipartisan support, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 is unlikely to contain provisions that would integrate a reserve component or National Guard for the United States Space Force.... Read More

2020-11-20 21:34:46
by Tom Ramstack
Defense Analysts Caution Against U.S. Troop Withdrawal in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON -- Defense analysts warned Congress Friday against the U.S. troop withdrawal in Afghanistan announced this week amid indications that... Read More

WASHINGTON -- Defense analysts warned Congress Friday against the U.S. troop withdrawal in Afghanistan announced this week amid indications that radical Islamists could resume terrorist attacks. They said further proof is needed that Taliban fighters would not try to seize... Read More

Senior Pentagon Official Resigns as Trump Remakes Leadership

WASHINGTON — A senior Defense Department official resigned on Tuesday, opening the way for a longtime ally of President Donald Trump to take on a... Read More

WASHINGTON — A senior Defense Department official resigned on Tuesday, opening the way for a longtime ally of President Donald Trump to take on a key leadership role a day after Pentagon chief Mark Esper was fired. James Anderson, the acting deputy undersecretary of defense for policy,... Read More

Esper's Firing Raises Concerns About Trump's Plans for the Pentagon in Final Weeks

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's decision to fire Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Monday raised concerns that he may be planning far-reaching military moves in... Read More

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's decision to fire Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Monday raised concerns that he may be planning far-reaching military moves in his final weeks in office — and is putting in place new leadership more inclined to go along. Trump named Christopher... Read More

2020-10-27 16:05:11
by Reece Nations
Space Force Establishes Operations Command

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The United States Space Force recently launched its Space Operations Command, according to Air Force Magazine.... Read More

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The United States Space Force recently launched its Space Operations Command, according to Air Force Magazine. Lt. Gen. Stephen Whiting was introduced as the head of the operations command during a ceremony in Colorado Springs, Colo.,... Read More

2020-10-21 15:45:19
by Reece Nations
Bootcamp to Begin for First Class of Space Force Recruits

SAN ANTONIO – The military’s newest branch, the United States Space Force, swore in its first recruits Tuesday, Oct. 20.... Read More

SAN ANTONIO – The military’s newest branch, the United States Space Force, swore in its first recruits Tuesday, Oct. 20. Seven recruits, five men and two women, will commence the force’s inaugural boot camp at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland for... Read More

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