Ideas
Defense One Radio, Ep. 84: Biden, Europe and the future of transatlantic security
Three experts unpack the opportunities and challenges ahead for Europe and the U.S. in 2021.
Threats
China Is Our No. 1 Priority. Start Acting Like It, Austin Tells Pentagon
Task force says the military Biden inherited from Trump had a “say-do gap” in the resources directed at China.
Business
New Air Force One Could Be Delayed Another Year
The GAO’s latest cost estimate brings the price tag to $2.6 billion apiece.
Policy
Unity Will Be ‘Key Message’ in Biden’s First International Trip
Aides say COVID, China, and climate change will be discussed, but a top message is reaffirming America’s close partnership with allies.
Exclusive
Policy
Space Force Seeks $831.7M for Unfunded Priorities
Projects left out of 2022 budget would boost Cheyenne Mountain security, space-based cryptology.
Threats
Biden: Government Must Draft Anti-Corruption Plan by December
Analysts hailed the memo’s designation of corruption as a national security threat and its deadline for action.
Breaking News
Threats
Austin Asks Top General For ‘Options’ to Evacuate Afghans
Operation would need authorization from White House, which is not yet “actively pursuing” the idea.
Business
Pentagon Shelves Plans for New Air Force Two
In the meantime, the Air Force is in the early stages of developing supersonic and hypersonic passenger aircraft.
Ideas
Three Fixes to Prevent Another Battle of Lafayette Square
A year after federal forces violently cleared the park near the White House, the legal loopholes that militarized D.C. remain wide open.
Policy
Is the Biden Administration Proud of its Pentagon Budget?
If the White House wanted to boast about its spending plans, it wouldn't have buried the news on Memorial Day weekend and given reporters just 10 minutes to ask questions.
Policy
Naval Spending Proposal Defies Calls to Buy Extra Ships, Boost Marines’ Budget
President’s first spending request seeks to cut procurement to free funds for operations and maintenance.
Policy
Afghanistan, Iraq Drawdowns Cut $3.2B From US Army Costs, Officials Say
2022 spending request would shrink service budget by a total of $3.6 billion.
Policy
Biden Seeks State Department Budget Boost, But Ambassador Nominations Lag
Slow pace of nominations is the “missing piece" of the president's drive to emphasize diplomacy’s importance in foreign policy, one analyst said.
Business
Eyeing China, Biden’s First Pentagon Budget Would Cut Troops, Buy Future Weapons
DepSecDef Hicks called the president’s $715 billion spending request “a foundation for fielding a full range of needed capabilities.” Republicans called it “a cut.”
Science & Tech
Biden Requests Less Than 1% Boost to Pentagon R&D, Despite Hyping New Defense Tech
As the Defense Department shifts its focus toward more technologically advanced potential adversaries, it will have to research and develop more and sustain less.
Policy
US Space Force Seeks 2,020 Civilian Acquisition Staff in 2022
$17.4 billion request includes two GPS satellites, five launch vehicles.
Business
Biden Nominees Want to Shake Up Pentagon Weapons Buying Process
Shyu, Blume tell Congress they plan to bridge the “valley of death” between the development phase and becoming a program of record.
Policy
US Air Force Will Cut Turkey from F-35 Production, Kendall Says
The service secretary nominee also signals he’s not in favor of reducing U.S. F-35 purchases.
Ideas