Policy
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.
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.
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.
Exclusive
‘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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Air Force leaders axe major China-focused organizational efforts
The service continues to unravel its “reoptimization for Great Power Competition” strategy.
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.
Congress to probe US strikes on boats in Caribbean
The U.S. Senate and House Armed Services committees will open bipartisan inquiries amid conflicting Trump-administration statements.
Lawmakers vow action to force Russian concessions in proposed Ukraine deal
House Republicans are adamant that the end of the war not be the “Munich Agreement all over again.”
DOGE is no longer a 'centralized entity,' personnel chief says
But the renamed U.S. Digital Service continues its work, as do DOGE teams throughout government, Office of Personnel Management says.
Most of the Air Force’s biggest programs will now be overseen by a 4-star under the deputy SecDef
The centralization of the ICBM, B-21, F-47, and Air Force One programs appears at odds with the Pentagon’s professed acquisition approach, one expert said.
FBI Director Kash Patel waived polygraph tests for deputy, senior staff
No previous deputy director has received access to some of the country’s most sensitive secrets without passing a standard bureau background check, insiders say.
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Army scraps PEOs in bid to streamline procurement, requirements processes
Big defense contractors have “conned” services into believing they need bespoke systems, the Army secretary said.
Shutdown deal adds $850M for B-21, Sentinel construction projects
Lawmakers boosted projects in the three-bill funding package that reopened the federal government on Wednesday.
Feds should get at least most backpay by Nov. 19, administration says
Lawmakers added a provision for full backpay after the White House suggested it might illegally prevent workers from getting their money.
