Congress

Zelenskyy warns Congress, DoD that Kyiv will lose without aid

Zelenskyy visited Washington hoping to secure more and better US aid for Ukraine. But many of his pleas fell on deaf ears as Republican opposition grows.

3 days ago

Dems weigh batch votes to bypass Tuberville for remaining nominees

After the Senate confirmed three joint chiefs, Democrats are strategizing how to confirm the hundreds of other military nominees held up by Tuberville.

3 days ago

House GOP in no rush to give more Ukraine aid after $6 billion error

Previously supportive Republicans are wary of passing more Ukraine aid, but the Pentagon says its accounting error allows it to transfer more weapons.

Three top military leaders confirmed after Senate deal

The Senate is expected to fill three vacancies on the Joint Chiefs of Staff — including the chairman post — after a surprise breakthrough Wednesday.

4 days ago

Capitol Hill dysfunction threatens key defense initiatives

Congress' dysfunction is taking its toll on national security as a government shutdown looms and hundreds of officers can't take their posts.

5 days ago

U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Eric Smith takes a pause Sept. 6, 2023, before answering a question at the Defense News Conference in Pentagon City.

As both the No. 1 and No. 2 Marine, his schedule is ‘not sustainable’

“I don’t mind breaking my own back,” said Gen. Eric Smith, who is both the acting and assistant commandant. “It’s just, I have to make good decisions.”

6 days ago

AUKUS agreement requires submarine production boost, Franchetti says

She laid out the submarine production rate needed for AUKUS at her Senate hearing, though her confirmation is uncertain.

10 days ago

U.S. Navy Adm. Chris Grady, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, listens to a question Sept. 13, 2023, at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland.

At Air Force conference, officials call out effect of Tuberville holds

“This is a situation that one senator has created for us,” Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference in Maryland.

11 days ago

Freedom Caucus derails Pentagon spending bill, foreshadowing shutdown

Republican leaders pulled votes on the defense spending bill after failing to secure Freedom Caucus support, teeing up a possible shutdown next month.

11 days ago

Value of Ukraine F-16s won’t be immediate, says US Air Force general

Gen. Allvin said at his confirmation hearing that F-16s for Ukraine would become useful for the country after their integration with the broader force.

12 days ago

159th Fighter Squadron pilots take off from the 125th Fighter Wing in Jacksonville, Florida, on Aug. 26, 2016.

US Air Force prioritizing cloud-based command and control

“It’s really about prioritization, right?” Brig. Gen. Luke Cropsey said. “How far can you get with the dollar you have available?”

12 days ago

GOP defense budget’s abortion, diversity limits draw Biden veto threat

The political acrimony represents another serious division with less than three weeks to go before a federal funding lapse triggers a partial shutdown.

13 days ago

US Air Force warns budget delays could jeopardize NGAS tanker fielding

“The longer you take to get started, obviously, that has back-end consequences,” Air Force acquisition chief Andrew Hunter told Defense News.

2 weeks ago

The US Navy is spending billions to stabilize vendors. Will it work?

Find out how the U.S. submarine-industrial base is faring after $2.3 billion went toward shoring up two shipbuilders and their thousands of suppliers.

2 weeks ago

Air Force pushes for quickstart plan to launch programs without budget

The Senate added a slimmed-down version of this proposal to its NDAA, and the Air Force is talking to the House to ensure it stays in the final version.

2 weeks ago

Laura Cressey, Michael Miller and Kusti Salm, officials representing the State Department, Defense Department and the Estonian Ministry of Defense, are seen Sept. 6, 2023, at the Defense News Conference.

US considering long-range fires for Ukraine, State Dept. official says

The official noted the Biden administration is "closely considering" sending long-range capabilities to Ukraine.

3 weeks ago

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, a Washington Democrat, is seen on a screen Sept. 6, 2023, at the Defense News Conference in Pentagon City.

Top Armed Services Democrat sees hard path to pass final defense bill

At the Defense News Conference, Rep. Adam Smith outlined a rocky path forward on negotiating a final defense policy bill with several conservative riders.

3 weeks ago

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks begins her keynote speech Sept. 6, 2023, at the Defense News Conference in Pentagon City.

Replicator drone program needs no new money, Hicks says

“We’re not creating new bureaucracy, and we will not be asking for new money in [fiscal 20]24,” the deputy defense secretary says.

3 weeks ago

Opinion

The avoidable consequences of a government shutdown

The real hostages, and eventual losers in this blame game, are not elected officials or single issues of contention; they are American taxpayers.

3 weeks ago

Congress

Defense News offers premier news and analysis about Capitol Hill debates and legislation affecting military and industry decision-makers.

Zelenskyy visited Washington hoping to secure more and better US aid for Ukraine. But many of his pleas fell on deaf ears as Republican opposition grows.

After the Senate confirmed three joint chiefs, Democrats are strategizing how to confirm the hundreds of other military nominees held up by Tuberville.

Previously supportive Republicans are wary of passing more Ukraine aid, but the Pentagon says its accounting error allows it to transfer more weapons.

The Senate is expected to fill three vacancies on the Joint Chiefs of Staff — including the chairman post — after a surprise breakthrough Wednesday.

Congress' dysfunction is taking its toll on national security as a government shutdown looms and hundreds of officers can't take their posts.

“I don’t mind breaking my own back,” said Gen. Eric Smith, who is both the acting and assistant commandant. “It’s just, I have to make good decisions.”

She laid out the submarine production rate needed for AUKUS at her Senate hearing, though her confirmation is uncertain.

“This is a situation that one senator has created for us,” Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference in Maryland.

Republican leaders pulled votes on the defense spending bill after failing to secure Freedom Caucus support, teeing up a possible shutdown next month.

Gen. Allvin said at his confirmation hearing that F-16s for Ukraine would become useful for the country after their integration with the broader force.

“It’s really about prioritization, right?” Brig. Gen. Luke Cropsey said. “How far can you get with the dollar you have available?”

The political acrimony represents another serious division with less than three weeks to go before a federal funding lapse triggers a partial shutdown.

“The longer you take to get started, obviously, that has back-end consequences,” Air Force acquisition chief Andrew Hunter told Defense News.

Find out how the U.S. submarine-industrial base is faring after $2.3 billion went toward shoring up two shipbuilders and their thousands of suppliers.

The Senate added a slimmed-down version of this proposal to its NDAA, and the Air Force is talking to the House to ensure it stays in the final version.

The official noted the Biden administration is "closely considering" sending long-range capabilities to Ukraine.

At the Defense News Conference, Rep. Adam Smith outlined a rocky path forward on negotiating a final defense policy bill with several conservative riders.

“We’re not creating new bureaucracy, and we will not be asking for new money in [fiscal 20]24,” the deputy defense secretary says.

The real hostages, and eventual losers in this blame game, are not elected officials or single issues of contention; they are American taxpayers.