Pentagon and Congress | Air Force Times

Officers whose nominations were blocked in Senate could get back pay

A Senate proposal would award retroactive pay and benefits to senior leaders who waited months for confirmation due to a political standoff.

23 hours ago

Defense bill would let Air Force retire A-10s, F-15s — but not F-22s

Lawmakers want to see more detailed plans for collaborative combat aircraft and the Next Generation Air Dominance platform.

2 days ago

This aerial view shows troops from the Syrian Democratic Forces Special Operations and the US-led international coalition, take part in heavy-weaponry military exercises in the countryside of Deir Ezzor in northeastern Syria, on March 25, 2022.

Pentagon & Congress

Senate votes to keep US troops in Syria amid Iran-backed attacks

The Senate voted down a resolution to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria amid dozens of attacks from Iran-backed proxies in the war-torn country.

Defense bill drops disputed abortion provisions in final compromise

The annual defense authorization bill contains a 5.2% pay raise for troops and a host of other policy renewals needed for military operations.

2 days ago

Political fights aren’t discouraging recruits, military recruiters say

Service officials said one of their biggest obstacles is explaining the basics of military service to teenagers who rarely interact with veterans.

3 days ago

US to announce fresh weapons aid for Ukraine as Congress is stalled

The latest weapons package will be provided through presidential drawdown authority, or PDA, which pulls weapons from existing U.S. stockpiles.

3 days ago

Senators say DOD has a ‘long way to go’ to fix military housing issues

Senators want answers from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on steps the Pentagon is taking to address continued problems in family housing.

3 days ago

23 top military leaders still in limbo after nominations blockade ends

A pair of Republican senators are still blocking the senior leaders from stepping in to their new roles.

3 days ago

Here are the 422 military leaders finally confirmed by the Senate

More than 400 senior officers received promotions after waiting months for Senate action.

4 days ago

Tuberville drops holds on more than 430 military promotions

The move is a signifcant breakthrough in the 10-month standoff between the GOP lawmaker and Pentagon leaders over abortion.

4 days ago

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan speaks during a press briefing at the White House, Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, in Washington.

US, allies in talks on naval task force to protect shipping in Red Sea

After three vessels were struck by missiles, the White House said the U.S. may establish a naval task force to escort commercial ships in the Red Sea.

5 days ago

Total number of VA claims lost in online systems tops 120,000

The number of veterans discovered to be affected by the mistakes has grown in recent months.

5 days ago

Defense authorization deal expected this week

Defense and veterans hearings on Capitol Hill for the week of Dec. 4, 2023.

6 days ago

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin makes remarks at a virtual Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023, at the Pentagon in Washington.

Defense Secretary Austin calls out those who advocate isolationism

In remarks at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said United States must reject calls to turn away from global interests.

6 days ago

Lawmakers urge Air Force to shift fighters to guard, reserve squadrons

They worry that if A-10s at Guard bases in Maryland and Michigan retire without a replacement, those squadrons could lose their fighter missions.

9 days ago

Lawmakers press VA for stronger rules against discrimination

Congressional Democrats and outside advocates say updated policies for the department are long overdue.

9 days ago

VA workers face more mandatory overtime amid record claims processing

The backlog of overdue disability claims is expected to keep rising over the next year.

9 days ago

VA again found homes for 38K struggling vets in 2023

Department outreach efforts have helped nearly 80,000 veterans since the start of 2022.

10 days ago

VA delays disputed change in how it pays for veterans’ ambulance trips

New rules were set to go into effect next February but will now be delayed until 2025.

12 days ago

Pentagon & Congress

The latest military news from the Pentagon and Congress.

A Senate proposal would award retroactive pay and benefits to senior leaders who waited months for confirmation due to a political standoff.

Lawmakers want to see more detailed plans for collaborative combat aircraft and the Next Generation Air Dominance platform.

The Senate voted down a resolution to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria amid dozens of attacks from Iran-backed proxies in the war-torn country.

The annual defense authorization bill contains a 5.2% pay raise for troops and a host of other policy renewals needed for military operations.

Service officials said one of their biggest obstacles is explaining the basics of military service to teenagers who rarely interact with veterans.

The latest weapons package will be provided through presidential drawdown authority, or PDA, which pulls weapons from existing U.S. stockpiles.

Senators want answers from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on steps the Pentagon is taking to address continued problems in family housing.

A pair of Republican senators are still blocking the senior leaders from stepping in to their new roles.

More than 400 senior officers received promotions after waiting months for Senate action.

The move is a signifcant breakthrough in the 10-month standoff between the GOP lawmaker and Pentagon leaders over abortion.

After three vessels were struck by missiles, the White House said the U.S. may establish a naval task force to escort commercial ships in the Red Sea.

The number of veterans discovered to be affected by the mistakes has grown in recent months.

Defense and veterans hearings on Capitol Hill for the week of Dec. 4, 2023.

In remarks at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said United States must reject calls to turn away from global interests.

They worry that if A-10s at Guard bases in Maryland and Michigan retire without a replacement, those squadrons could lose their fighter missions.

Congressional Democrats and outside advocates say updated policies for the department are long overdue.

The backlog of overdue disability claims is expected to keep rising over the next year.

Department outreach efforts have helped nearly 80,000 veterans since the start of 2022.

New rules were set to go into effect next February but will now be delayed until 2025.