Exclusive Policy

Air Force will buy more KC-46s, skip competition

The service is mulling whether to move away from fixed-priced on the next buy.

Policy

AI, satellites, and Golden Dome shine in new House-passed defense bill

The House version of the NDAA takes aim at acquisition and requirements processes that have long bedeviled both Congress and the military.

Policy

House NDAA would deepen Pentagon involvement in domestic, border operations

The House-passed version of the military policy bill makes Defense Department involvement in various domestic and law enforcement activities more permanent.

Policy

House NDAA draft mandates database of contractors used in covert operations

The early stage defense bill draft would create an internal list of contractor clients that assist the U.S. military in its secret operations “to facilitate deconfliction and risk assessment.”

Policy

Drones are now bullets: How a new Pentagon policy may accelerate robot warfare

The new policy also allows more units to buy drones, which should boost the demand signal to industry.

Policy

State Department lays off 1,350 employees

The department says the cuts are needed to tame bureaucracy. Critics say they will weaken U.S. strength at a critical time.

Policy

SASC to Pentagon: you need a new cyber-deterrence plan

Trump-administration nominees and members of the Senate Armed Services Committee recently traded views on how to deal with rising threats to critical infrastructure.

Policy

Mass layoffs are imminent, State Department tells employees

The diplomatic agency is poised to be the first to move forward with SCOTUS-blessed RIFs.

Policy

Allies struggle to work with US military in space operations, GAO finds

An excess of overlapping roles, classification, and unfilled jobs are hurting U.S. collaboration with partners in space.

Policy

DHS intelligence office halts staff cuts after stakeholder backlash

Pushback from law enforcement associations and Jewish orgs came after Nextgov/FCW first reported plans to shed most staff within a core DHS intelligence unit.

Policy

Pentagon to become rare-earth mining company's largest stockholder

The Defense Department will buy a 15% stake in MP Materials and fund the construction of a magnet-making facility, all to reduce its reliance on China.

Policy

Plan to slash DHS intel office faces multi-front pushback

Jewish-community and law enforcement organizations have asked Trump administration security chiefs to preserve the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis.

Policy

Pentagon gets millions for cyber in GOP reconciliation act

But the law’s deep cuts to Medicaid will lower cyberdefenses around rural hospitals targeted by data thieves.

Policy

Civilian intel analysts get relocation tax break long given to troops

The measure is part of the "Big, Beautiful" policy-and-spending bill passed last week.

Policy

Thousands of Pentagon civilians and other feds are still waiting for their 2025 pay raise

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s decision last spring to shutter a slew of advisory committees has imperiled already-enacted pay raises for 60,000 federal employees in blue collar jobs.

Policy

Pentagon confirms it’s holding up weapons promised to Ukraine

Spokesman declined to say which weapons affected, when munitions review began, or who recommended the pause.