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Lawmakers move to further restrict cellphones in DOD schools
Overall, cellphone use is not a systemic issue, says DODEA.
Troops will see an average 4.2% boost in 2026 housing allowance
Service members will see a 4.2% bump, on average, in their monthly Basic Allowance for Housing as of Jan. 1, defense officials announced Thursday.
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Pentagon & Congress
Pentagon leaders defend Trump’s mobilization of Guard in US cities
Pentagon leaders faced members of Congress on Thursday for the first time since President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard in American cities.
House passes defense policy bill that pushes boat strike video release
The NDAA would withhold 25% of Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth's travel budget until he sends lawmakers videos of controversial strikes on alleged drug boats.
A drone ‘war is more silent and more deadly’ — and America is behind
If the U.S. is ever dragged into a large-scale war against an adversary like China or Iran, it will be ill-equipped for a drone-heavy background.
Trump administration adds militarized zone in California along border
The Trump administration is adding another militarized zone to the southern U.S. border to support border security operations.
In other news
Congress to require greater oversight of military health restructuring
The proposed defense authorization bill calls for more eyes on proposed modifications to military treatment facilities.
Review: ‘In Waves and War’ shows promise of psychedelics to treat PTSD
The documentary, streaming Monday, follows a group of veterans undergoing experimental treatments currently not approved for clinical use in the U.S.
An enduring symbol: why troops keep naming things after reptiles
From cobras to gators, reptilian mascots and call signs appear on patches, aircraft and unit logos across every branch. Why?
By Clay Beyersdorfer
Battlefield 6 review: the return of a war game worth fighting for
After the rocky reception of Battlefield 2042, game developer DICE needed a strong comeback. The new Battlefield 6 mostly delivers, our reviewer writes.
The next military shooter showdown: ‘Call of Duty’ vs. ‘Battlefield’
This fall, two video game franchises are going head-to-head, with the upcoming releases of "Call of Duty: Black Ops 7" and "Battlefield 6."
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MORE STORIES
70 commissaries will offer customers doorstep delivery within a month
Here's the list of 70 commissaries that will have doorstep delivery service by Jan. 11.
By Karen Jowers
House passes defense policy bill that pushes boat strike video release
The NDAA would withhold 25% of Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth's travel budget until he sends lawmakers videos of controversial strikes on alleged drug boats.
81 women join Texas suit accusing Army gynecologist of secret filming
Another 81 women have joined a Texas lawsuit accusing an Army gynecologist of secretly filming them during invasive examinations, court documents say.
By Eve Sampson
Why Hitler declared war on the United States
Was it an irrational act? Hardly. Pearl Harbor merely gave him the excuse he had long been seeking.
By Gerhard L. Weinberg
Trump-Erdogan ties are propelling F-35 talks with once-banned partner
During Donald Trump’s first term, the U.S. removed NATO ally Turkey from the fighter program after Turkey purchased an air defense system from Russia.
By AP Staff
Trump administration adds militarized zone in California along border
The Trump administration is adding another militarized zone to the southern U.S. border to support border security operations.
Congress to require greater oversight of military health restructuring
The proposed defense authorization bill calls for more eyes on proposed modifications to military treatment facilities.
By Patricia Kime
US has seized oil tanker off coast of Venezuela, Trump says
Using U.S. forces to seize an oil tanker is unusual and marks the administration’s latest push to increase pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
US Air Force instructor pilots have first T-7 in training milestone
Now that Air Education and Training Command has its first T-7, the 99th Flying Training Squadron's instructor pilots will start getting familiar with it.
Judge orders Trump to end Guard deployment in Los Angeles
The Trump administration must stop deploying the California National Guard in LA and return control of the troops to the state, a federal judge ruled.
Army OB-GYN charged with secretly filming dozens at Fort Hood
Maj. Blaine McGraw has been charged with four counts and 61 specifications for allegedly secretly filming women during medical exams.
By Eve Sampson
US military flies 2 fighter jets over Gulf of Venezuela
Public flight tracking websites showed a pair of U.S. Navy F/A-18 fighter jets fly over the Gulf on Tuesday.
Hegseth tells lawmakers he is weighing release of boat strike video
Lawmakers are demanding a full accounting from DOD on the strikes that killed two people who were clinging to the wreckage of an initial strike.
US Air Force wants AI to power high-speed wargaming
The Air Force wants a cloud-based, AI-powered “digital sandbox” as a hub to generate and run wargames at speeds of up 10,000 times faster than real time.
By Michael Peck
Pentagon taps Google Gemini, launches new site to boost AI use
Hegseth said the U.S. must stay ahead of adversaries who are working to take advantage of rapid technology advancements, like the development of AI.
Lawmakers move to block effort to privatize military commissaries
Lawmakers have moved to prevent the Defense Department from privatizing military commissaries as part of Congress’ proposed compromise defense policy bill.
By Karen Jowers