Threats

How US Military Leaders Are Reacting to Charlottesville

While the president wavers in his criticism of white nationalist protesters, military leaders are speaking out against racism and intolerance in America’s ranks.

Ideas

Transgender Soldiers Want the Dignity of Serving Their Country

A CIA officer writes about the men and women in uniform alongside whom she serves.

Policy

Pentagon Tightens Rules After Fake Cops Buy $1.2M in Weapons

A sting operation run by the Government Accountability Office revealed a number of loopholes that bad actors could use to buy excess military arms and equipment through the 1033 program.

Policy

Trump’s Transgender Troop Ban Sparks An Instant Opposition of Unusual Allies

The commander in chief tweet-declares a stunning change for military personnel, but it’s far from clear he can make it stick.

Policy

Annual Defense Bill Aims to Rein in Pentagon Outsourcing

Supporters say measure would protect federal employees from seeing their jobs contracted out.

Science & Tech

Tomorrow Soldier: How The Military Is Altering the Limits of Human Performance

Breakthroughs in biometric science mean future troops will fight with weapons that understand them — inside and out.

Ideas

How to Adapt Military Risk to an Era of Hypercompetition

DOD needs to change how the defense enterprise describes, identifies, and assesses risk in an age of persistent disruption.

Ideas

Military Omnipresence: A Unifying Concept for America’s 21st-Century Fighting Edge

The Pentagon should converge its technological and doctrinal efforts towards a perpetual, networked presence that enables operations and awareness anywhere in the world.

Ideas

Is America Getting Sucked Into More War in Syria?

The Trump administration has quietly escalated against Assad and his allies—and risks sparking regional chaos.

Science & Tech

Veterans Affairs to Adopt DoD’s Electronic Health-Records System

VA will sign onto MHS Genesis platform being developed by Cerner and Leidos under a $4 billion contract.

Ideas

The Civil Service’s Preference for Hiring Military Vets Comes at a Hidden Cost

The U.S. government has long shown a hiring preference for veterans. But because of the demographics of the U.S. military, this has limited the federal workforce's diversity.

Science & Tech

Pentagon Mapmakers Want To Tap Mobile Ad Technology. Here's Why.

NGA is scoping private-sector technology at incubators in Boston, Austin and New York.

Policy

White House Vows to Audit the Pentagon, Which Would Be a First

The goal is audacious enough, but promises of a record spending increase makes it even more complicated.

Science & Tech

The US Military Has a New Technology to Finally Solve the Concussion Crisis

The Army is testing sensors that can detect the impact of explosions on the brain.

Ideas

How Should We Treat Our Military Robots?

Increasingly human-like automated weapons demand an honest accounting of our emotional responses to them.

Threats

ISIS-in-Afghanistan Is Losing Recruits to Other Groups, US Officials Say

SecDef Mattis says he’s made no decision on adding troops, but warns of a confrontation if Russia continues to arm the Taliban.

Business

Special Counsel Goes to Bat for Two Defense Whistleblowers

Friend of the court briefs try to overturn rulings against retaliation claims.