Ideas

The Senate’s Defense Authorization Bill Ignores Our New Reality

The annual policy bill takes almost no notice of a pandemic that has already wrought more destruction than most of our country’s wars.

Ideas

It’s Time to Listen to the Doomsday Planners

Another pandemic, or a terrorist attack, could cripple an unprepared executive branch.

Business

House Coronavirus Relief Bill Would Send Billions to Defense Companies

A section of the proposed HEROES Act would cover executive compensation and other perks for defense and intel contractors, mirroring wording offered by an industry group.

Ideas

Lawmakers Ask Trump to Extend National Guard Missions for One Crucial Day

Many pandemic-response missions are slated to end just before Guard troops become eligible for federal benefits.

Ideas

Lawmakers Should Push the Pentagon to Draw on Women’s Contributions to Security

A relatively tiny increase in dedicated funding would make a big difference downstream.

Policy

Senate Approves Ratcliffe As Nation’s Top Spy

Ratcliffe received more “no” votes than any previous nominee for the position.

Policy

Pompeo Defends Firing Of State IG

Charges that the dismissal was retaliatory are “patently false,” he says.

Policy

Senate Intel Panel Advances Ratcliffe Nomination In Party-Line Vote

The former Texas prosecutor is a deeply controversial pick for the nation’s top spy.

Policy

Fired State IG Was Investigating Saudi Arms Sale

A key House Democrat says that might be why he was fired.

Ideas

2020 Could Be 'Darkest Winter in Modern History,' COVID Whistleblower Says

The United States dropped the ball early in the pandemic, and remains unready for painful months to come, Rick Bright tells Congress.

Ideas

There’s One Big Reason the U.S. Economy Can’t Safely Reopen

The country faces the same problem today that it did two months ago: There are not enough tests to contain the virus.

Policy

Prospective Navy Secretary Vows to 'Restore the Appropriate Culture'

Kenneth Braithwaite answered pointed questions from senators, but he and fellow nominees from DoD and the Air Force appear set for confirmation.

Ideas

Time to Rethink Security Aid to Egypt

More than $40 billion over three decades has bought only dubious benefits to U.S. security.

Policy

China Is Buying Global Influence on the Cheap

The U.S. gives more money than China to many international organizations. So why do they seem more sympathetic to Beijing?

Policy

Trump’s Intelligence-Chief Nominee Vows to ‘Speak Truth to Power’

GOP lawmakers are seeking to fasttrack Rep. John Ratcliffe’s nomination, but his careful answers did not appear to satisfy skeptics.

Policy

Pentagon’s ‘Willingness to Kiss the President’s Ass’ Worries Top Lawmaker

‘I am worried about a culture developing,’ says House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash., after the latest delay in Navy captain’s fate.

Policy

Pentagon Blasts Lawmakers’ Critique Of COVID-19 Response

Democratic lawmakers accused SecDef of leading a “disjointed and slow” response to the pandemic.

Policy

The Pentagon's Spectrum Defeat May Presage a Loss of Other Key Frequencies

Rejecting appeals by Defense officials and their Congressional allies, the FCC approved a private company's use of spectrum near ones used by GPS.

Policy

Pentagon’s Esper Was Too Slow With Coronavirus Response, Senate Democrats Say

In a letter, lawmakers accuse the SecDef of causing confusion, showing ‘dangerous misunderstanding’ of the virus, and harming readiness.