Policy
Who Is Paying for the War in Yemen?
The Pentagon says that “errors in accounting” mean Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have not been properly charged for refueling.
Ideas
Would a $700 Billion Budget Really Sink the Pentagon?
Resistance is already forming to a proposed decrease in 2020 spending. It’s important to understand just what that decrease means.
Policy
Lawmakers Probe Role of Special Operations in Great Power Competition
The two four-stars up to lead CENTCOM and SOCOM faced questions about how their commands will change under the National Defense Strategy.
Business
Mattis ‘Optimistic’ Pentagon Will Get Needed Budget from White House, Democrats
Mattis tells nervous defense industry execs and conservatives at Reagan National Defense Forum he doesn’t expect sharp budget cuts from House Democrats and President Trump.
Policy
Space Force Actually May Be Bargain, New Cost Estimate Says
“At this point it may be a coin toss whether or not this makes it through,” says Todd Harrison.
Policy
Pentagon, DHS Spell Out How They’ll Cooperate on Cyber Defense
The memorandum of understanding comes after the Defense Department prepared to help the Homeland Security Department repel Election Day cyberattacks.
Policy
Senior Defense Officials Offer Dueling Pricetags for Space Force
Hours after the Pentagon’s No. 2 floated a sub-$5 billion figure, the Air Force secretary stood by her $13-billion estimate.
Policy
Pentagon Began Clampdown on Senior Leaders’ Public Speaking Months Ago, Memos Reveal
DOD says it’s to save money and time. Critics say it’s to avoid conflict with the president.
Science & Tech
Pentagon Researchers Test 'Worst-Case Scenario' Attack on US Power Grid
Over 100 people gathered off the tip of Long Island this month to roleplay a cyberattack that takes out the U.S. electric grid for weeks on end.
Science & Tech
The Tech Companies That Are Eager to Sell AI to the Pentagon
The Pentagon’s AI shopping list is similar to a Silicon Valley company’s: fast data organization, predictive maintenance, and mitigation for threats.
Business
Rust Is a $21-Billion Problem for the Pentagon
DoD is having trouble figuring out how to prevent damage from nature’s basic chemical reactions.
Policy
Trump's Space Force Faces an Uncertain Fate
Congressional lawmakers, including Republicans, were skeptical of the idea long before the midterms.
Threats
US-Backed Forces in Iraq, Syria May Face Challenges for Years
Latest report by three inspectors general details weakness in anti-ISIS effort.
Science & Tech
Pentagon Doesn’t Want Real Artificial Intelligence In War, Former Official Says
No one at the Defense Department wants weapons that make their own decisions, said former Deputy Secretary Bob Work.
Ideas
Here’s the Real Value in the U.S.-South Korean Alliance
As the U.S.-ROK Security Consultative Meeting convenes for a 50th time, it's worth reviewing the annual meeting's record of accomplishment.
Policy
Military Intelligence Spending Just Posted Biggest Spike in a Decade
With an 18 percent increase this year, the Pentagon’s $22 billion intelligence tab is rising faster than civilian spy agencies.
Ideas
Secretary Mattis, Defend This or Resign
If Defense Secretary Mattis believes the migrant caravan is not a threat requiring 5,000 active troops deploying to the border, he should say so and quit.
Threats
After Laser Attacks, Pentagon Spending $200M to Protect Pilots’ Eyeballs
The contracts came just months after the U.S. accused China of trying to blind military pilots in Africa and the Pacific.
Policy
What Mattis Said in the Middle East
The defense secretary said he pressed his Saudi counterpart on the murder of a U.S.-based journalist, but U.S.-Saudi relations appear little changed.
Ideas