Policy
2025 in review: policy
A turbulent first year of the second Trump administration brought precedent-breaking security strategy and hasty cuts to the DOD workforce.
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The twists and turns of Trump’s 2025 war on unions
A look at how the Trump administration has sought to undermine collective bargaining at the Defense Department and across the federal government.
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Pentagon will cough up summaries of three years of safety investigations, per NDAA
Sen. Warren pushed for the disclosure amid rise in military aviation mishaps.
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Leaders tapped to fill months-long vacancies atop NSA, Cyber Command
The signals-intelligence titan and the combatant command have been without a permanent leader since April.
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Trump rebrands Congressionally-approved troop housing subsidy as ‘warrior dividend’ bonus
More than $2.9 billion in reconciliation funds was allocated to beef up troop housing allowances. Now it’s being used for $1,776 checks.
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Space Force Special Operations Command? Congress has questions, too
The service defended its need for a SOCOM component. Defense experts said it’s redundant.
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After eight months, administration signals a potential leader for NSA, CyberCom
The White House has asked senators to confirm a promotion for Army Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd, deputy director for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
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Nearly 300 days after purge, Pentagon taps new Air Force vice chief, JAG
Air Mobility commander nominated to be vice chief; Oklahoma Air National Guard commander to be top judge advocate general.
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After shedding thousands of feds, Trump admin's new 'Tech Force' aims to recruit workers to two-year jobs
Some of the recruits to government service will be on leaves of absence from private-sector companies, raising conflict-of-interest questions.
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NATO retains ‘open-door policy’ despite US opposition to a ‘perpetually expanding alliance’
A top alliance official noted that NATO members are not agreed on how far it might expand.
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‘Make Europe Great Again’ and more from a longer version of the National Security Strategy
A fuller version reviewed by Defense One outlines the Trump administration’s plans for shedding old relationships and creating new ones.
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Provision to protect DOD civilians’ union rights stripped from NDAA
The House dropped bipartisan language that would have nullified Trump's anti-union orders after the Senate balked at a fight.
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Pentagon would have to explain future JAG firings under NDAA provision
The compromise version of the defense policy bill reflects lawmakers’ concern about Hegseth’s February purge of three judge advocates general.
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Hegseth hints at higher defense budgets as OMB says another reconciliation bill is possible
Analysts had warned that the $156 billion reconciliation bill might lead to efforts unsustainable without more money.
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Army stands up Western Hemisphere Command as new strategies highlight domestic operations
U.S. Army North and South will fold into what used to be Army Forces Command to form the new regional headquarters.
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Intelligence community should monitor supply chains, says new natsec strategy
It's another example of the Trump administration's treatment of economic interests as national-security issues.
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Majority of Americans favor more support to Ukraine, Ukrainian victory
As the Trump administration pushes Ukraine to concede, survey finds most Americans want to do more to help Ukraine expel Russia from its borders.
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Air Force leaders axe major China-focused organizational efforts
The service continues to unravel its “reoptimization for Great Power Competition” strategy.
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NSA has 2,000 fewer people now, meeting Trump-admin goal
The exact size of the agency’s workforce is not publicly known, but a fact sheet distributed by Maryland last year put it at 39,000.
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