Threats
‘Extremely lean’ Space Force acquisition units brace for Trump’s workforce cuts
Civilian employees make up about a third of the five-year-old service’s personnel.
Ideas
Don't cut this key driver of technological advantage
Defense-related research and development at America’s universities has helped make the U.S. military the best in the world.
Policy
Weld, baby, weld: White House to create an ‘office of shipbuilding’
Trump wants America to bend steel and build like it used to.
Policy
At least one Pentagon agency has begun firing probationary workers
The Defense Logistics Agency has begun dismissing its share of the Defense Department’s 5,400 targeted employees.
Science & Tech
‘No more viable option than NGAD,’ Air Force says as decision rests in new hands
With China unveiling its new sixth-gen designs, the service can do nothing better, officials say.
Ideas
By halting Ukraine aid, Trump courts personal defeat
There’s still time to avoid emboldening America’s enemies—and a humiliation that dwarfs his predecessor’s Afghanistan withdrawal.
Policy
Air Force, Space Force chiefs make forceful cases for ‘warrior ethos’
The intense speeches were delivered to a less-than-full ballroom due to Trump-administration travel restrictions.
Threats
Chinese info ops, military sales driving ‘wedges’ between US and partners in the Middle East
Concerns come as the Trump admin slashes USAID—leaving space for more Chinese influence globally.
Policy
Hegseth orders suspension of cyber, information operations planning against Russia
U.S. cyber warriors are essentially curbed from gathering information that can be used to influence, disrupt, or sabotage Russian decisionmaking.
Threats
New products show China’s quest to automate battle
One system tested in a recent PLA exercise automatically dispatches drones, tracks targets, and assigns strikes.
Ideas
After Oval Office disaster, Europe emerges as Ukraine’s best hope
Friday’s fiery Trump-Zelenskyy meeting sets up hard choices across the Atlantic.
Policy
Comply with the next ‘what you did last week’ email, Hegseth tells Pentagon civilians
Defense Secretary’s memo aims to avoid a repeat of last weekend’s confusion and stress.
Science & Tech
A 3D-printed submarine? Not likely, but maybe something close
The Navy is bumping up its use of additive manufacturing to make critical, delay-prone submarine parts, said Christopher Miller, NAVSEA’s executive director.
Policy
Judge orders Trump admin to rescind order to fire probationary employees
The Defense Department had planned to begin firing some 5,400 workers on Friday, court filings said.
Defense Systems
As space becomes more crowded, Space Force turns to AI
The newest service wants to understand where automation can augment—or even replace—humans in monitoring space for threats.
Business