Ideas
The Pentagon is using polygraphs to hunt leakers, but the tests are more theater than fact
My 27-year career with the CIA makes me wary of the certainty their use can appear to convey.
Policy
US absent as western powers meet on wartime protections for civilians
A multinational group meets this week at NATO headquarters in Belgium to discuss protections for civilians during combat. Even though the U.S. co-founded this effort, no American delegation will be in the room.
Policy
‘We have to throw technology at the cyber problem,’ Pentagon CIO says
DOD must use “the fantastically skilled people that we have in a much more effective way,” Kirsten Davies said.
Policy
Top Air and Space Force leaders will gather amid unresolved Iran war, budget uncertainty
The Joint Chiefs chairman, Space Force’s new leader, and the NASA administrator are all scheduled to speak at next week’s Air and Space Force Association conference.
Sponsor Content
The Infrastructure Behind the Mission
AI, cyber threats, and data are reshaping federal IT. See how agencies can modernize infrastructure for what’s next.
Science & Tech
AI-powered biowarfare is coming; the Army lays plans to ‘fight through’ it
A new strategy aims to prepare to “deploy, fight, and win decisively in a bio-contested environment” by 2035.
Science & Tech
NSA wants AI to help analysts sift vast data troves
Tasks that take days or weeks will be done "much faster," says the agency’s cybersecurity chief.
Sponsor Content
From Experimentation to Execution: The State of Agentic AI in the Federal Government
How ready is the federal government for agentic AI? Explore the latest adoption trends, barriers, and strategies in our new report.
Science & Tech
CIA cyber intelligence helped US forces capture Maduro, deputy director says
The agency’s Center for Cyber Intelligence built a “flawless intelligence picture,” Michael Ellis said.
Threats
China is trying to steal US AI models' secrets, intel agencies warn
NSA, FBI, and CISA cite “aggressive, malicious, and targeted" distillation tactics.
Science & Tech
USAF speed up Reaper replacement after heavy losses in Iran
The Massed Modular Aircraft program envisions a $10M airframe—plus sensor and system costs.
Voices
Threats
July’s breakout at OpenAI was far more complex than initially realized
Hundreds of AI agents collaborated to escape their containers, disguising their actions and even sacrificing themselves.
Business
Back to life: How Shield AI’s future unmanned fighter made decades-old tech new again
The original GE Aerospace engine nozzle, designed for the F-16, is key to building a vertical takeoff robotic jet prototype.
Business
White House pressure for US firms to skip French space summit is ‘unfortunate,’ insiders say
One policy director warned that American companies could be used as a ‘prop’ against their country’s interests.
Threats
The US may lack the engineers to rebuild space assets in a future war: RAND
Industry is already short of skilled engineering personnel.
Exclusive
Policy
Pentagon cyber strategy expected as soon as next week, sources say
Officials have previewed a blueprint emphasizing offensive operations, AI, and closer industry ties as the military reorganizes its cyber forces.
Defense Systems
Some Navy subs are waiting years for shipyard work, and that’s costing billions of dollars
In the past decade, U.S. attack submarines have spent 41 ship-years idle, GAO found.
Policy
Stopgap funding bill temporarily extends key cyber info-sharing law
The short-term package pushes the sunset date for the bedrock cyber legislation to Dec. 11.
Policy
House defers potential shutdown with a stopgap spending bill
Continuing resolution will fund the federal government through Dec. 11
Policy
‘Change agent’ Army secretary resigns
Hegseth’s purging of transformation-focused generals led to Dan Driscoll’s resignation, source says.
Ideas
We can buy more weapons. We can’t buy more time.
Three things Congress should do to keep America’s window of vulnerability from growing.
Science & Tech
The US military gets its own ChatGPT today
After months of security testing, Pentagon adds an OpenAI product to the list of AI tools approved for unclassified work.
Policy
Here’s what Trump’s new ‘Space Academy’ could mean for the US military
A new source for commissioned officers—but is it needed?
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