Policy
Judge: Acting Immigration Services Director Was Unlawfully Appointed
Ken Cuccinelli — also acting DHS secretary — was named acting head of USCIS without having first served in a subordinate position.
Policy
A New Nuclear Warhead? STRATCOM Chief Can’t Answer Yes or No
The W93 has been the focus of questions since it appeared in the 2021 budget proposal.
Ideas
Beware a Peace Deal That May Spell War
There are important questions still to be answered about Afghanistan and the United States.
Policy
Lawmakers Fire Back at Trump’s Plan to Divert Military Funds to Border Wall
But the bipartisan team of Smith and Thornberry have attracted few other GOPers to the effort.
Policy
2020 Dems Reject Military Use In Idlib
On paper, Democrats have remained open to the use of military force for humanitarian purposes.
Threats
NATO Has ‘Growing Realization’ About Risks of Using Huawei Gear, Top General Says
But USAF’s Wolters offered no evidence that U.S. officials are persuading allies to shun Chinese 5G networking products.
Policy
Pentagon Defends Handling Of Traumatic Brain Injuries In Iranian Attack
TBI symptoms are often “nonspecific,” the Joint Staff surgeon said.
Science & Tech
Should the US Have a Secretary For Influence Operations?
Two former top special operations officials say their job was too junior and the Pentagon isn’t taking information warfare seriously enough.
Policy
Esper Plays Nuclear War: Russia Nukes Europe, US Fires Back
The defense secretary took part in a classified drill at U.S. Strategic Command this week.
Ideas
The West Can’t Even Agree on Itself, Much Less China
At the Munich Security Conference, allies argued with each other as much as their adversaries, rejecting Trump administration views on issue after issue.
Policy
Nothing’s ‘Irreversible,’ But the Pentagon’s New Bureaucracies Aim to Come Close
As budget hearing season gets underway, expect to hear a lot about "irreversible implementation" of changes toward great power competition.
Policy
Defense Policy Chief Ousted By White House
A Pentagon spokesman said he had “no information” that John Rood was fired for his role in Trump’s Ukraine scandal.
Policy
DHS to Waive Contracting Rules to Build Border Wall Faster
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf is using a 2005 law to override certain requirements.
Policy
Will Trump’s Afghanistan Peace Deal Win Him Votes?
"I would not say that Afghanistan looms over American politics now the way that Iraq did,” said one analyst.
Policy
Esper Says White House 'Never' Pressured Him on JEDI
Denying claims that Trump meddled, Defense Secretary Mark Esper says he alone chose to review the $10 billion cloud contract.
Policy
Trump Targets Major Weapons Projects To Fund Wall
The funds will be drawn mainly from procurement for major programs like the F-35 fighter jet. $1.3 billion will come from the National Guard alone.
Policy
DOD Nominee Who Questioned Ukraine Aid Holdup Denies Report About Her Ouster
A story from the New York Post ignited speculation that Elaine McCusker’s nomination could be withdrawn. It’s not clear that’s the case.
Policy
100 US Soldiers to Transfer into Space Force in 2021
The Army is the first branch outside the Air Force to announce initial plans regarding the new branch of service.
Policy
Where Could the US Put Its Post-INF Missiles?
It would be a hard slog to get allies to agree to any sort of basing agreement.
Policy