Joe Gould
Joe Gould was the senior Pentagon reporter for Defense News, covering the intersection of national security policy, politics and the defense industry. He had previously served as Congress reporter.
All Stories By Joe
Republican budget plan will ‘undermine’ US security, warns Biden admin
The Biden administration is portraying plans from Republicans to gut the federal budget as jeopardizing national security.
Lawmakers propose check on Biden’s war powers
A bipartisan group of lawmakers have introduced legislation to repeal the 1991 and 2002 authorizations for the use of military force in the Middle East amid escalating tension between the U.S. and Iran.
Eyeing China, Indo-Pacific Command seeks $27 billion deterrence fund
U.S. military officials have outlined a new spending requirements to boost deterrence against China, including new weapons, new construction and closer military-to-military collaboration with America’s allies in the region.
Congress reacts to US airstrikes in Syria
The Pentagon’s announcement that that U.S. forces conducted deadly airstrikes in Syria sparked complaints from some of President Joe Biden’s Democratic allies that he overreached, while key Republicans applauded the move.
US military may sidestep big budget cuts backed by progressives
While the cost of the nation’s pandemic response is putting pressure on the defense budget, its unlikely Congress will make a sweeping, indiscriminate cut, according to Senate Armed Services Committee chairman.
Pentagon budget must prioritize Navy, Air Force and cyber, lawmakers say
Two sea power advocates in Congress are making the case to grow the Navy's budget, along with the Air Force and cyber capabilities, at the expense of the other services.
Cotton: Give China ‘crystal clear’ warning not to invade Taiwan
Sen. Tom Cotton's China strategy seeks economic decoupling.
Sens. Mark Kelly, Tammy Duckworth and Angus King claim Armed Services gavels
New power-sharing rules for Senate Democrats is shaking up the Senate Armed Services Committees, with some junior authorizers taking prized subcommittee chairmanships.
Sen. Jon Tester takes defense appropriations gavel
A Montana Democratic will chair the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, handing new clout over the defense budget to a state with nuclear weapons interests.
How Republicans might accept a smaller defense budget
Republican Rep. Ken Calvert is willing to meet Democratic lawmakers partway in their reported plans to trim the defense budget: cut back on civilian employees, not equipment and modernization.
