Defense Systems

Lawmakers seek new probe into AWS JEDI collusion

Letters from Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Attorney General Merrick Garland and acting Defense Department Inspector General Sean O’Donnell asking for information, documents and, in the case of the Justice Department, a probe into possible anticompetitive behavior on the part of Amazon Web Services.

Defense Systems

Boosting student loan debt forgiveness could pay off for cyber recruiting

Almost all Defense Department personnel who have sought student loan debt forgiveness have been denied -- a trend that, if unchanged, could make it even harder to recruit and retain tech talent.

Defense Systems

Better acquisition data would improve DOD oversight

While better data would help the Defense Department more effectively assess investments and risks over time, according to a watchdog official, several challenges exist.

Defense Systems

DHS, White House turn spotlight on ransomware

The Department of Homeland Security and the White House are putting the spotlight on combatting ransomware, actively developing plans to confront the issue.

Defense Systems

Court will hear JEDI political interference case against Trump

A complaint of political inference by former President Donald Trump in the Defense Department’s award of the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure cloud computing contract to Microsoft in 2019 may now proceed.

Defense Systems

DOD expands bug bounty program to public networks, systems

The vulnerability disclosure program, which was started from the Defense Digital Service's 2016 Hack the Pentagon initiative, was initially restricted to public-facing websites and applications.

Defense Systems

E-sports gaming platforms take off in Air Force

With more than 80% of Airmen ages 18 to 35 identifying as gamers, the Air Force developed a scalable framework and unified competition structure for players.

Business

What's In Biden’s First Budget? And How Late Will It Be?

The White House could submit its defense budget request later than any administration in at least a century.

Ideas

America Can Beat China in Space with Safe Nuclear Propulsion

A reactor that heats up and expels non-radioactive gas promises unprecedented mobility in orbit.

Policy

Proposed Space National Guard Gathers Momentum

A space-focused branch of the Guard would aim to give the Space Force “a surge-to-war capability” in times of conflict.

Threats

Innovation, Software Highlighted as Priorities by Pentagon's No. 2 Civilian

Kathleen Hicks also suggested DOD still needs the cloud capabilities JEDI is supposed to provide.

Defense Systems

Prepare for the next Sunburst by protecting controlled unclassified information

Protecting the supply chain and CUI will only become more challenging as the number of defense contractors and the amount of data they house continues to increase.

Policy

US Air Force, Navy Extend 50% Work-From-Home Indefinitely

New memos suggest office space occupancy may never return to 100 percent.

Ideas

We Don’t Have Enough Information to Evaluate Arguments for a New ICBM

The Biden administration should follow precedent and commission an independent look at the case for the Ground Based Strategic Defense program.

Threats

US Marines May Have Lost Their ‘Amphibious Edge,’ Leaders Say

Top Marines tell Congress that after deadly AAV accident and years in Middle East, the Corps and its vehicles are unprepared for waterborne operations.

Policy

No ‘Boogeyman’: Why the Bin Laden Raid Might be the Last Unifying Moment for US Foreign Policy

The changing threat facing the country and a growing political divide means there’s no common enemy around which Americans can unite.

Ideas

Ten Years After Bin Laden, We Still Need Better Intelligence Sharing

Leaders should still apply the lessons we learned, when contending with China and Russia.

Policy

New Fort Hood Report May Help Change Sexual Assault Prosecutions

Spc. Vanessa Guillén’s sexual harassment was reported by three soldiers. Command failed to act.