Policy
Hegseth, Vought actions heighten fears about inspector-general independence
Good-government groups and lawmakers from both parties say Trump-administration moves will chill whistleblowing and watchdog offices.
Business
Silicon Valley in St. Louis?
With the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency as its north star, a non-profit is working to get defense tech to put down roots in the Midwest.
Threats
Poland seeks better counter-drone tech after Russian incursion
Warsaw’s foreign minister also hopes the U.S. will send more troops to train with its military.
Policy
Trump administration knocks out at least 15 oversight websites, saying IGs 'lied to the public'
It's not a shutdown issue: the White House is withholding funds from the umbrella organization for the government's inspectors general.
Threats
As government spirals toward a shutdown, Trump promises mass layoffs
A last-ditch effort to keep government funded failed Tuesday night. Agencies will begin furloughing staff on Wednesday.
Threats
NATO members say they’re confident, mostly coordinated on how to deal with Russian drone threats
Alliance nations are working to do more together to counter increasing Russian air threats—and downplaying the possibility of a U.S. force reduction in Europe.
Policy
SecDef uses unprecedented meeting to unveil 10 personnel, due-process reviews
After summoning senior officers from around the world, Hegseth invites them to resign if they don’t agree with him.
Threats
Shutdown would curtail long-term intelligence work at DOD
Routine spying activities conducted by NSA, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, and others would continue, but some forward-looking intelligence planning would be halted, a department document shows.
Ideas
Don’t let the ‘unequal dialogue’ become a partisan one
Secretary Hegseth's short-notice summoning of flag officers evinces a dangerous lack of respect.
Threats
Shutdown could erode cyber defenses by sidelining critical staff, experts warn
And it would happen just as a bedrock law on sharing cyber threat data expires.
Ideas
Military AI needs guardrails—not to slow it down, but to keep it useful
Modifying commercial models isn’t as easy as removing the parts that discourage users from killing people.
Policy
TRADOC shuts its doors, part of Army effort to shrink the number of generals
Training and doctrine will now be handled by Army Transformation and Training Command.
Business
SOCOM to get robotic anti-drone turret for maritime platforms
Defense tech startup Allen Control Systems landed a contract for Bullfrog, which can use a variety of common weapons.
Business
Defense One Radio, Ep. 195: Europe's growing defense industry
The EU's ambassador to the U.S. underscores the importance of the bloc's $910 billion defense plans known as Readiness 2030.
Ideas
How Trump can make defense reform stick
It will require sustained presidential attention and unprecendented transparency.
Defense Systems