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Lawmakers back White House FY26 plans for more troops, 3.8% pay hike
The military's active-duty end strength would grow by about 26,000 troops next year under plans being considered in the House and Senate.
Images show shredded KC-46 boom that led to emergency landing
Photographs that leaked online showed extensive damage to the KC-46's refueling boom, with its metal ripped and twisted and a chain hanging down.
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Pentagon & Congress
Pentagon taps four commercial tech firms to expand military use of AI
The four firms — Google, Anthropic, OpenAI and Elon Musk's xAI — will help the DOD develop AI workflows for key national security missions.
Ukrainians welcome US aid, concerned over Trump’s ultimatum to Putin
Trump delayed “very severe” sanctions on Russia for 50 days, sparking criticism from Ukrainians and European leaders who see the delay as too long.
Australia hosts largest-ever Talisman Sabre military exercise
The event began with live-fire exercises, including Australia’s first use of U.S.-supplied HIMARS rocket systems.
Pentagon yanks speakers from Aspen Security Forum, blasts its values
Nearly a dozen top generals and defense officials were scheduled to speak at the forum, which begins Tuesday.
In other news
Trump threatens Russia with tariffs and boosts US weapons for Ukraine
Trump said European allies would buy “billions and billions” of dollars of U.S. military equipment to be transferred to Ukraine.
‘A new challenge’: Air Force vet becomes two-time living organ donor
Air Force veteran Lindsay Gutierrez is a two-time living organ donor after giving a kidney to a fellow veteran and part of her liver to another recipient.
An ode to Dwight Schrute, The Office’s best squad leader
He'd rub people the wrong way in a real squad. But he'd also make sure you had water, ammo and a working red lens flashlight on the night of land nav.
By Clay Beyersdorfer
Why Despicable Me’s Gru is just a warrant officer with better branding
If Gru wore a uniform, it wouldn’t have stars or stripes. It would have a coffee stain and rank that no one really understands.
Why Patrick Star is the blue falcon of Bikini Bottom
Patrick Star is every lovable mess-up squadmate who cost you a weekend because he couldn’t keep his mouth shut during formation.
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MORE STORIES
Retired Army officer pleads guilty to sharing secrets on dating site
David Slater, who worked as a civilian Air Force employee, admitted to conspiring to transmit classified Russia-Ukraine war info on a foreign dating site.
Trump threatens Russia with tariffs and boosts US weapons for Ukraine
Trump said European allies would buy “billions and billions” of dollars of U.S. military equipment to be transferred to Ukraine.
By Illia Novikov, AP
Pentagon yanks speakers from Aspen Security Forum, blasts its values
Nearly a dozen top generals and defense officials were scheduled to speak at the forum, which begins Tuesday.
Lawmakers back White House FY26 plans for more troops, 3.8% pay hike
The military's active-duty end strength would grow by about 26,000 troops next year under plans being considered in the House and Senate.
Images show shredded KC-46 boom that led to emergency landing
Photographs that leaked online showed extensive damage to the KC-46's refueling boom, with its metal ripped and twisted and a chain hanging down.
House panel to mark up annual defense authorization bill this week
Defense and veterans hearings on Capitol Hill for the week of July 14, 2025.
Iran hit dome on US air base in Qatar in June attack: Report
The Pentagon has acknowledged that an Iranian ballistic missile hit Al Udeid Air Base in June during an Iranian attack after Trump downplayed the assault.
By Jon Gambrell, The Associated Press
Some A-10 Warthogs may dodge retirement under proposed Senate bill
The DOD's fiscal 2026 budget calls for the Air Force to retire its remaining 162 A-10 attack planes. The Senate's version would have the service keep 103.
Appeals court throws out plea deal for alleged 9/11 mastermind
Friday's decision undoes an attempt to wrap up more than two decades of military prosecution beset by legal and logistical troubles.
Proposed Senate defense bill would add $500M in long-term Ukraine aid
The Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative is one of two main ways the Pentagon has provided military support to Ukraine over the last three years.
Space Force building out more realistic digital training environment
STARCOM plans to transition Swarm to a cloud-based environment in the next year or two if it has the funding to support the effort.
US is selling weapons to NATO allies to give to Ukraine, Trump says
After a pause in some weapons shipment, U.S. officials said this week that 155 mm munitions and precision-guided rockets were on their way.
By Illia Novikov, AP
Hegseth calls for extensive reforms to Pentagon drone-buying practices
The memo directs the military services to create active duty formations by September, built for the sole purpose of scaling the use of drones across DOD.
US resumes sending some weapons to Ukraine after Pentagon pause
The defense secretary directed the pause last week to allow DOD to assess its weapons stockpiles, in a move that caught the White House by surprise.
By Tara Copp, AP
Navy spouse sues base officials over free speech after Facebook ban
A military spouse alleges his First Amendment rights were violated when officials banned him from the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay’s Facebook page.
By Karen Jowers