Pentagon & Congress

The latest military news from the Pentagon and Congress.

Pentagon tech chief wants an ‘all in one’ sensor

It is one of several critical technologies that Heidi Shyu, the undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, included in remarks at SOFIC.

17 hours ago

Ukraine getting battalion’s worth of artillery in new $100 million aid package

The U.S. is sending Ukraine another $100 million in military assistance, including heavy artillery and counter-artillery radars, the Biden administration announced Thursday.

18 hours ago

Pentagon & Congress

Watchdog could subpoena former VA workers under plan approved by Congress

Currently the VA inspector general cannot force former employees to detail problems or crimes they saw during their tenure at the department.

At least 9 troops or vets charged in domestic extremism cases since Capitol riot

An inspector general report recommended updating the DoD's extremism definition, which it has done, as well as creating a system to track extremism reports.

20 hours ago

National Guard officer promotions could speed up under new measure

Guard members wait more than seven months on average for advancement.

22 hours ago

Biden invokes Defense Production Act for formula shortage

President Joe Biden has invoked the Defense Production Act to speed production of infant formula and has authorized flights to import supply from overseas.

2 days ago

Junior service members being hit hard by inflation, senior enlisted leaders say

From food to child care to housing, inflation is hitting junior service members especially hard.

2 days ago

US troop pullout was key factor in Afghan collapse, watchdog says

The report by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction mirrors assertions made by senior Pentagon and military leaders.

2 days ago

Trump improperly punished brother of impeachment witness, military watchdog finds

But the Pentagon inspector general does not recommend any firings or adverse actions in response to the infractions.

2 days ago

Senators reach deal to advance sweeping military toxic exposure legislation

The measure could be passed out of the chamber in the next few weeks and become law later this summer.

2 days ago

Review finds US troops didn’t violate law in Syria airstrike

The investigation comes amid new scrutiny on the U.S. military for strikes that cause innocent deaths.

3 days ago

As Air Force plans for new aircraft, senators worry about capability gaps

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., worried the Air Force could find itself without enough aircraft to conduct battlefield management or rescue downed personnel.

3 days ago

Pentagon’s high-level group to aid Ukraine is rooted in Iraq and Afghanistan fight

The Pentagon has modeled a new high-level team to rush military aid to Ukraine after the group it used to rush supplies to troops in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, according to a memo obtained by Defense News and sources familiar with the matter.

3 days ago

Flyers are on display during the Suicide Explained & Suicide Intervention training inside the Bay Breeze Event Center at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, Sept. 17, 2021. With suicide being the leading cause of death in the Air Force, the presentation focus was to provide skill based training in primary prevention for personnel at Keesler. (Kemberly Groue/U.S. Air Force)

New military suicide prevention study group to begin work this summer

The 10-member panel will offer a report on improvements to suicide prevention efforts within the armed forces early next year.

3 days ago

UFOs pose real danger, says Pentagon, but aliens aren’t to blame — probably

Congress this week held its first public hearing on unidentified aerial phenomena in more than 50 years.

3 days ago

US troops heading back into Somalia, reversing Trump order

Fewer than 500 troops will be stationed inside the African country to train local forces and fight emerging threats.

4 days ago

This week in Congress: UFO debate flies into Capitol Hill

Defense and veterans hearings on Capitol Hill for the week of May 16, 2022.

5 days ago

Troops sent to bolster NATO begin turnover as US mulls larger footprint in Europe

“The deployments are one-for-one unit replacements, which will leave our overall force posture in the region — approximately 100,000 — unchanged,” the Pentagon's spokesman said.

7 days ago

Pentagon chief talks to Russian counterpart for first time since Ukraine war began

This is the first conversation between the two defense chiefs since Feb. 18, a week before the war started.

7 days ago

US poised to bite into Russia’s global defense market share

A senior U.S. State Department official said Thursday that a massive Ukraine aid package ― which contains $4 billion in grants for allies to buy American-made military hardware ― is partly aimed at eroding Russia’s share of the global defense market.

7 days ago

Lawmakers press DOD to provide troops access to abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned

The group wants Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to issue new directives to ensure female troops seeking abortions can get around looming state bans on the procedure.

8 days ago

Senate confirms new Coast Guard commandant — the first uniformed woman to lead a service

Adm. Linda Fagan has served in the Coast Guard for 36 years.

8 days ago

Pentagon tests high-power microwave systems against drones

The Joint Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office has completed its third demonstration to look at capability that could fill identified gaps to defeat the growing drone threat around the world.

9 days ago

Stinger shortcut: US Army seeks special funding for missile supply chain

U.S. Army officials hitting supply chain snags on their way to restocking Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and Javelin anti-tank weapons sent to Ukraine may get a reprieve.

9 days ago

The 109th Airlift Wing began administering COVID-19 vaccines on March 10, 2021. (Master Sgt. Christine Wood/Air Force)

Bill would mandate honorable discharge for troops booted for refusing COVID vaccine mandate

The measure would also upgrade the discharge status of troops already kicked out of the service for refusing to get vaccinated.

10 days ago

Afghan-based terror groups still a year away from ability to strike US, intel leaders say

Earlier assessments had estimated an attack could be possible as early as this summer.

10 days ago

From howitzers to suicide drones: Pentagon seeks right ‘balance’ on training Ukrainians on new arms

As the war in Ukraine drags into its third month, the United States is trying to figure out the best way – and the best pace – to train Ukrainian troops on how to use the Western arms flooding into the besieged nation.

11 days ago

In this June 1, 2020, file photo President Donald Trump departs the White House to visit outside St. John's Church in Washington.

Trump denies new claims he wanted US military to attack protesters

Former President Donald Trump denied his defense secretary's accusations that he wanted U.S. military members to shoot protestors during civil rights demonstrations in summer 2020, but declined comment on Mark Esper's assertion that he suggested using missiles to attack drug cartels in Mexico.

11 days ago