Policy
Lawmakers to Pentagon: Tell Us When You Use Cyber Weapons
A proposed law would require congressional notification when DOD conducts external cyber operations — offensive or defensive.
Threats
Pentagon: Beijing Is Arming Its Manmade Islands in South China Sea
With its reef expansion apparently finishing up, China is working to extend the reach of its military power.
Science & Tech
Pentagon Accelerates Work on Multi-Warhead Interceptor
Officials won’t say it’s because of North Korea. But experts say Pyongyang’s planned ICBMs will almost certainly release decoys to cloak their nukes.
Policy
Trump’s Military Buildup Won’t Begin Until 2019
Pentagon officials say they're working to fix readiness first, then grow the military.
Threats
New Tactics, Quicker Decisions Are Helping to ‘Annihilate’ ISIS, Pentagon Says
The military’s top leaders credit Trump for delegating authority and directing efforts to surround ISIS fighters.
Business
Defense Acquisition Is Bad and Getting Worse: Report
A Congressional panel delivers a peppery interim look at military acquisition as Rep. Mac Thornberry prepares to introduce new reforms.
Threats
Mattis Fills Key Executive Positions at the Pentagon
Former official: Defense Secretary James Mattis’ political SES appointments are mainstream choices.
Policy
Defense Ends Civilian Hiring Freeze, But Will Review 'Necessity' of Vacant Positions
Mattis sent a memorandum to department leadership Wednesday.
Threats
US Military: Sexual Assault in the Ranks Is Less Prevalent, and Better Reported
But defense officials say that with an estimated 14,900 cases last year, there’s still work to be done.
Science & Tech
The Pentagon’s Bug Bounty Program Should Be Expanded to Bases, DOD Official Says
The ‘best and brightest’ hackers could accelerate the search for vulnerabilities across some of the Defense Department’s broader critical infrastructure.
Ideas
Pentagon Misses the Target When It Comes to Its Workforce
Defense officials can’t tell you how many contractors they employ or at what cost. Finding out is critical to personnel reform.
Business
Small Business Advocate Hauls Pentagon Into Court
The plaintiff says the Defense Department is covering up ways in which large contractors hog work intended for smaller companies.
Threats
‘No Doubt’ Syria Behind Chemical Attack, Mattis Says
And Trump’s rush order for a counter-ISIS plan, remains just a “skeleton,” Mattis said. "It's going to take time."
Ideas
Don’t Let the Pentagon Monopolize Nuclear Policy
Expert voices from State and Energy must be brought into the Trump administration’s nascent Nuclear Posture Review.
Policy
What One Joint Chief Of Staff Thinks of Trump
Do the generals have too much influence? I asked the U.S. Air Force’s top military leader.
Ideas
What’s Wrong With the Pentagon’s Civilian Personnel System?
Quite a lot, a new report points out.
Business
Boeing Might Be the Biggest Winner in Trump’s Military Buildup
The Chicago aerospace company leads more than a half-dozen contractors whose programs stand to get 9- or 10-figure boosts if the president’s budget proposal becomes law.
Policy
Trump Picks ‘Mr. Fix-It’ to Run Daily Ops at Pentagon
Patrick Shanahan’s missile-defense background could prove important in a Trump administration.
Ideas
The Military Value of the Defense Department’s Energy Efforts
As the Trump administration reviews climate and energy policies, they should do it with a key goal in mind.
Ideas