Ideas

The Pentagon Doesn't Need a ‘Skinny’ Authorization Bill

Sen. Inhofe’s proposal for a place-holder NDAA isn’t necessary, and could be counterproductive.

Threats

Trump’s STRATCOM Pick Declines to Endorse Open-Skies Withdrawal

The Trump administration is weighing pulling out of the 1992 surveillance agreement amid complaints that Russia is out of compliance.

Threats

US Lawmakers Fear The Damage Is Done On Syria

“The egg may be scrambled,” said one Armed Services Committee lawmaker amid a welter of efforts to salvage the situation.

Ideas

Donald Trump Looks More and More Like Oliver North

Iran-Contra was also about a foreign policy run from inside the White House and outside the law.

Ideas

The White House Abused the Classification System

The question now is whether Congress can summon the will to hold the president to account.

Ideas

Does America Need a Space Force?

A new service branch would put more bureaucracy between critical capabilities and the troops who need them.

Ideas

A National-Security Problem Without Parallel in American Democracy

Democrats — candidates and lawmakers alike — should make it clear that they will impose consequences on any country that meddles with voting.

Ideas

Democrats Should Not Give New Nukes to a President They Want to Impeach

National security concerns about Trump are only the latest reason Sen. Jack Reed should kill the new sub-launched warhead.

Threats

White House Used Classified System to Hide Trump’s Phone Call: Whistleblower

The IC employee wrote that the July 25 call to Ukraine was not the only time documents had been improperly hidden in codeword-level systems.

Threats

Read the Whistleblower Complaint

The House Intelligence Committee released a redacted version of the complaint about President Trump's alleged attempts to solicit election-related favors from foreign powers.

Policy

House Democrats Announce Formal Impeachment Probe — Sort Of

It’s far from clear whether House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s go-slow strategy has changed.

Ideas

Imagine If Obama Had Done This

Republicans have tolerated plenty of foreign-policy moves by Trump that they would never have let his predecessor get away with. Will that continue with Iran?

Science & Tech

After Long Opposition, McConnell Says He'll Support $250M for Election Security

Despite intelligence community warnings, the Senate majority leader had long opposed more funding to ward off foreign interference in the 2020 election.

Ideas

Robert O’Brien Should Have to Face Senate Confirmation

Requiring congressional approval would be good for Trump, good for his choice for national security adviser, and good for the country.

Threats

Key Republicans More Eager to Help Saudi Arabia Than Fight Iran

On Capitol Hill, a cautious reaction to attacks on two Saudi oil production facilities.

Science & Tech

The US Government Will Spend $1B on AI Next Year — Not Counting the Pentagon

That's the latest estimate from the White House. But industry experts say it might not be enough.

Threats

SecAF Pick: No Need to Ban Military Use of Trump Properties

Any regulations “should not be specific to any particular owner,” says Barbara Barrett.

Policy

US Lawmaker Threatens to Give the Next Attack Plane to the Army

Tired of USAF slow-rolling, Rep. Michael Waltz has already spearheaded legislation allowing SOCOM to seek light attack aircraft.

Ideas

It’s Time for Congress to Rein in US Arms Exports

A staggering 70 percent of Americans believe that selling American arms abroad makes us less safe at home.

Ideas

Women Help Prevent Terrorism. Congress Should Encourage the Pentagon to Pay Attention

Here’s a list of related House provisions that should be part of 2020's final authorization bill.