Ideas

Lessons from this year’s unfunded priority lists

Just 15% of the value would go toward near-term readiness.

Policy

More automation—that's what the pick to lead Pentagon weapons testing wants

Meanwhile, the comptroller nominee described the conditions needed for a clean audit.

Ideas

‘Fund first, ask questions later’ is a bad way to go

Handing $156 billion to the Pentagon with no clear plan invites not just waste but danger. Here's why.

Threats

Army gets $2.5B for weapons, vehicles in reconciliation bill

Sum includes hundreds of millions for more missiles as Pentagon reviews stockpiles.

Ideas

Defense reconciliation bill begins rebuild and transformation of our military

The cost of deterring war will always be dwarfed by the cost of fighting one.

Ideas

What the R&D budget proposal says about the future of war

The Pentagon’s research-and-development section heralds several quiet, monumental shifts.

Science & Tech

Defense Department budget request goes hard on AI, autonomy

The Pentagon is leaning into new technologies, but can it change the way it buys and builds to keep up with trends in AI and autonomy?

Science & Tech

How drone warfare fares in the 2026 budget

The president’s proposal leans heavily on one-time reconciliation dollars.

Policy

Lawmakers rip into defense secretary over flat Pentagon budget

The Pentagon is counting on one-time funds from a reconciliation bill to fund investments in shipbuilding and missile defense.

Policy

USAF slashes F-35 buy, boosts next-gen fighter in unconventional 2026 budget proposal

The Pentagon’s spending request includes not just the usual appropriations, but also the still-under-debate reconciliation bill.