Ideas
How Can Congress Authorize War When It Can’t Decide What War Is?
There’s bipartisan agreement that the law governing America’s wars needs an update. There’s also bipartisan agreement that it won’t happen anytime soon.
Policy
After Trump Weighs In on JEDI, GOP Lawmakers Say Keep Out of It
Four members of the House Armed Services Committee asked Trump to let the Pentagon award its Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure contract without delay.
Ideas
Don’t Expand the Covert Agents Secrecy Law
A House measure would put not only the press but the intelligence community at risk.
Threats
Did the US Invent Lyme Disease in the 1960s? The House Aims to Find Out
A decades-old conspiracy theory says Cold War bioweapons research is sickening tens of thousands of Americans a year.
Ideas
House to 2020 Candidates: Trump and Nukes Don’t Mix
Those who would win the Democratic nod should heed the vote to kill the new low-yield nuke.
Policy
Esper Assures Wary Senators He'll Keep Military Out of Politics
During his confirmation hearing, the SecDef nominee was asked about Trump, China, and Russia — and not Afghanistan, ISIS, or al-Qaeda.
Policy
Sen. Warren Spars with Defense Secretary Nominee Over His Lobbyist Work
The Democratic presidential candidate said that Mark Esper, who has declined to recuse himself from Raytheon-related decisions, should not lead the Pentagon.
Policy
Inside the Pentagon’s Game of Musical Chairs
Richard V. Spencer is the year’s third acting defense secretary — but there are a lot more moving pieces than that.
Policy
Milley: War with Iran Would Draw Forces from Great-Power Focus
The four-star Army general received questions but few challenges at his Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing.
Threats
Sexual Assault Allegation Surfaces About Nominee for Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman
Cleared by Air Force investigators, Gen. Hyten may yet face questions during his Senate confirmation process.
Ideas
The US-Saudi Alliance Is on the Brink
The relationship has survived for seven decades. A Democratic president could change that.
Business
The US Government’s Historic Spending Spree Continues
Spending data from the Government Accountability Office confirmed last year’s predicted spending spree and early fiscal 2019 data suggests historical spending levels continued.
Science & Tech
Congress Wants DHS to Study Disruptive Deepfake Videos
Bills introduced in the House and Senate aim to combat the forged media through comprehensive research and technological assessments.
Policy
US Senate Approves $750 Billion Defense Policy Bill
The National Defense Authorization Act also contains 3.1% military pay hike and acquisition reforms.
Policy
Lawmaker: Human Problem at Pentagon Worse than Tech Problem
Rep. Jim Cooper says Congress shouldn’t accept a government topped by acting political appointees.
Ideas
A Closer Look at the Arguments against the Low-Yield SLBM
Why should the U.S. forgo a modest technical adjustment that improves forces supporting its strategy for deterring limited nuclear war?
Science & Tech
HASC Chair on Mini-Nukes: 'We’re Not Trying to Manage a Nuclear War'
House Democrats don’t want to fund variable-yield nukes. The new chairman just explained why.
Ideas
House Democrats Want To Kill This More Useable Nuke. They’re Right.
There are no good arguments for the W76-2 warhead, and quite a few good ones against.
Science & Tech