Threats
US has turned back 13 ships in blockade of Iran, Joint Chiefs chairman says
SecDef Hegseth disputes Tehran’s claims to have closed the Strait of Hormuz, despite lingering mines.
Science & Tech
Put nuclear reactors in space within a few years, White House tells Pentagon
The push follows other Trump-administration efforts to expand nuclear power.
Policy
HASC chair: Trillion-dollar defense budgets are the ‘new normal.’ Reconciliation is less certain.
Many of the administration’s military space priorities bank on abnormal budget maneuvers.
Threats
Hegseth declares ‘decisive military victory’ in Iran, says U.S. is ‘hanging around’ to enforce ceasefire
The Joint Chiefs chairman tallied more than 13,000 strikes on Iran since war began.
Science & Tech
As aircraft losses mount, Pentagon wants a software fix to see through the fog of war
The Defense Department is looking to update how older planes see each other and absorb data.
Threats
Trump vows to find ‘leaker’ who publicized search for second downed airman in Iran
Asked whether the war in Iran is winding down or ramping up, the president said, “I don’t know.”
Policy
Budget would cut Pentagon research by one-third. Can industry compensate?
Tech firms are more willing to spend their own money on R&D.
Policy
Hegseth forces out Army’s top general in ‘widely anticipated’ move
The writing was on the wall late last year, when Gen. Randy George’s deputy was replaced by Hegseth’s senior military aide.
Ideas
How Ukraine’s defense industry innovates at the speed of modern war
The reasons are far more organizational than technological.
Threats
Once again, Trump declines to describe desired end-state to his Iran war
In a primetime address, the president doesn’t list military objectives or what the U.S. wants from Tehran.
Policy
Judge blocks Pentagon's Anthropic ban, calling it illegal retaliation
The court ruled that the Trump administration's actions were "arbitrary and capricious."
Threats
National Defense Strategy ‘falls short’ on nuclear, space threat: SASC chair
Russian space weapon is ‘very significant,’ head of U.S. Strategic Command says.
Science & Tech
The real danger of military AI isn’t killer robots; it’s worse human judgement
As Pentagon rushes to deploy LLM-based tools, research suggests they can undermine human thought and communication.
Ideas
The National Security Council is missing in action
The Trump administration's lack of a consistent rationale for the war on Iran underscores the importance of a functioning NSC.
Ideas
Pentagon leaders called Claude AI 'woke.' Tests show otherwise.
The blacklist against Anthropic deprives the federal government of one of the most rigorously neutral—and capable—AI models.
Threats
‘It takes money to kill bad guys,’ Hegseth says of $200B Iran war request to Congress
“Ungrateful allies” should say “thank you” to President Trump, he said.
Policy
Record-smashing $1.5-trillion spending proposal will fund only the ‘most essential things’: comptroller
The Pentagon’s acting CFO also said that just a sliver of the $153 billion reconciliation funds remains unallocated.
Threats
