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.
A day after President Trump threatened to have the military build his border wall with Mexico, a Democratic lawmaker is threatening to block such a move — with Republican help.
Key Democrats are laughing off reports that President Trump reversed course on his defense spending plans and now wants a dramatic boost in the military budget next fiscal year.
This week promises a flurry of Senate activity that could curtail U.S. arms sales to Riyadh, add new sanctions or rebuke of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman for his alleged role in Jamal Khashogghi’s death.
“I’m urging the president to consider” approving a “strategy-driven budget,” Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Jim Inhofe told an audience at National Defense University.
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo misled senators in a closed-door briefing last week on the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Sen. Chris Murphy said Wednesday.