Policy
The Future Depends on Fixing Readiness Now, Vice Chiefs Tell Lawmakers
Service leaders’ annual pilgrimage to Capitol Hill also serves as Phase One of Mattis’ long-range plan.
Science & Tech
As Fighting Resumes, Ukraine Extends a Wary Hand to Washington
Past missteps and half-measures have undermined trust in the U.S, but commanders still say there are ways to help.
Policy
'Even a Shining City on a Hill Needs Walls': Senator Tom Cotton
A Republican hawk acclimates to the Trump presidency—and threatens to reconsider the One China policy.
Business
The Complicated Relationship Between John McCain and Frank Kendall
The Pentagon’s chief weapons buyer for the past five years says he’s lowered the cost of arms, but the watchdog senator never seemed satisfied.
Ideas
A Pledge for More of the Same at the Pentagon
James Mattis has no new ideas for solving America's most intractable conflicts. Neither does congress.
Policy
The Senate Will Investigate Russian Interference in the US Election
With Mitch McConnell’s backing, a bipartisan inquiry could bring the first confrontation between Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress.
Policy
Trump Republicans See Putin's Russia As a New Front Line Against Islam
Conservatives are divided on whether Putin’s Russia is a totalitarian enemy or a defender of the Christian West.
Policy
Trump May Be on Collision Course with Congress over Russian Hacking
Lawmakers call Russian meddling in the election a threat to democracy; Trump says it never happened.
Policy
Rand Paul Is Already Planning to Disrupt Trump’s Foreign Policy
Some see the president-elect’s inexperience as an open door for the Kentucky senator and other members of Congress to reassert themselves against more intervention abroad.
Policy
The NSA-Cyber Command Divorce Is Inching Closer to Reality
Even if the spending-bill provision becomes law, the split may not happen until 2018.
Policy
How Trump Will Fight ISIS Worries Top House Armed Services Democrat
HASC's Rep. Adam Smith, in a C-SPAN-hosted interview, challenged Trump's incoming team to produce a national security strategy that doesn’t alienate the U.S. military's Muslim partners fighting terrorism.
Policy
Rep. Schiff: ‘Grave Concerns’ About Trump’s Relationship to America’s Intelligence Community
The House intelligence committee’s ranking member cites the president-elect’s contradiction of the IC’s consensus views.
Policy
Sen. Cotton: Trump Will Likely Take a Tougher Line on Russia
The SASC member — and just maybe, future SecDef? — also laid out a few priorities at the Defense One Summit.
Ideas
Rein in the National Security Council
Created as a coordinating body, the NSC has become a policymaking powerhouse whose White House status hides it from oversight.
Policy
McCain to White House: If You Won’t Establish a Cyber Defense Policy, Congress Will
‘Ignoring the issue, as the White House has done, is not an option,’ said the Senate Armed Services Committee chairman on Tuesday.
Business
Air Force, Pentagon Have More Work to Do Before Ditching the A-10, Watchdog Says
Losing the aircraft would also mean a loss of U.S. combat search-and-rescue capabilities, the Government Accountability Office said in a newly declassified report.
Ideas
How Obama Is Enabling the Next President to Launch Illegal Wars
If his administration gets its way, it would be even easier for future commanders in chief to take military action without approval from Congress.
Business
Neither Clinton Nor Trump Will Be Able to Fix the Pentagon’s Budget
With the federal budget capped through 2021, defense spending will be an immediate first test of the next American president.
Policy