Joe Gould was the senior Pentagon reporter for Defense News, covering the intersection of national security policy, politics and the defense industry. He had previously served as Congress reporter.
The report from DoD’s acquisition and sustainment office, which says broadly that consolidation poses a national security risk, marks the strongest U.S. government objection to merger and acquisition activity since the defense secretary in 2015 discouraged deals among the largest prime contractors.
“We are gravely concerned that any attempt to resurrect the INF Treaty or reimpose limitations on ground-launched missiles would catastrophically undermine American national security, encourage Russian aggression, and advance a flawed view of security that sacrifices peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific,” read a letter, obtained by Defense News.
A key Russia expert and two other defense experts are being blocked from joining the Pentagon by GOP Sen. Josh Hawley, as the Biden administration struggles to solve the deepening Russia-Ukraine crisis and deploys thousands of U.S. troops to bolster European allies.
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been named chairman of the Defense Innovation Board, which is part of the latest tranche of Pentagon advisory boards Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is restarting.
In the wake of recent missile and drone attacks against the UAE by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, there’s a fresh opportunity to integrate air and missile defense in the Mideast, says Lt. Gen. Michael Kurilla.
If Russian President Vladimir Putin invades Ukraine, defense analysts foresee a boost in the U.S. troop presence in Europe that would trigger a supplemental defense funding request to Congress so as not to deplete other Pentagon accounts.
Experts say the Pentagon's call for progress on hypersonic weapons development must be backed up with fiscal 2023 investments in much-needed testing infrastructure.