Defense Budget and Appropriations

Opinion

Taiwan’s big stake in Washington’s budget battles

It’s in the U.S. national security interest to accelerate Taiwan’s procurement of the capabilities it needs to deter an invasion, the authors argue.

10 hours ago

Exemption given for Navy to build nuclear sub in stopgap funding bill

The stopgap funding bill allows construction to begin on a second Columbia-class submarine as it threatens to fall behind schedule while a shutdown looms.

35 hours ago

Congress

Defense Secretary Austin’s salary cut to $1 under GOP budget plan

Democratic lawmakers decried the move as a childish political attack.

GOP, Dems clash on multiyear munitions buys as shutdown looms

A niche appropriations debate on multiyear munitions buys has ballooned into one of the numerous partisan standoffs over the defense spending bill.

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.

8 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.

10 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.

2 weeks 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?”

2 weeks 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.

2 weeks 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.

3 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.

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

Biden, Manchin at odds over revival of Pentagon cost-cutting office

The White House and Sen. Joe Manchin are at odds over reviving a high-ranking Pentagon office tasked with reforming the department's business practices.

3 weeks ago

GOP defense bill bars Pentagon from enacting Biden’s climate orders

The House NDAA bars the Defense Department from implementing Biden's climate orders, but many of its activities that reduce emissions may continue anyway.

4 weeks ago

US research interests closely tied to microelectronics industrial base

The Biden administration recently issued its research and development priorities for the fiscal 2025 budget.

5 weeks ago

The Capitol in Washington, D.C., is seen Nov. 4, 2022.

Government shutdown could hinge on fight over ‘woke’ military policies

Members of the House Freedom Caucus are demanding changes in Pentagon training and programs in exchange for their support of a budget deal.

5 weeks ago

Capitol Hill commission urges overhaul of Pentagon budget planning

The commission's interim report lays out 13 immediate recommendations to improve the budget planning process and another 10 possible major changes.

6 weeks ago

Budget

Defense News offers premier news and analysis about budget and appropriations affecting defense programs to keep military and industry decision-makers informed.

It’s in the U.S. national security interest to accelerate Taiwan’s procurement of the capabilities it needs to deter an invasion, the authors argue.

The stopgap funding bill allows construction to begin on a second Columbia-class submarine as it threatens to fall behind schedule while a shutdown looms.

Democratic lawmakers decried the move as a childish political attack.

A niche appropriations debate on multiyear munitions buys has ballooned into one of the numerous partisan standoffs over the defense spending bill.

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

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

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

“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.

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.

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.

The White House and Sen. Joe Manchin are at odds over reviving a high-ranking Pentagon office tasked with reforming the department's business practices.

The House NDAA bars the Defense Department from implementing Biden's climate orders, but many of its activities that reduce emissions may continue anyway.

The Biden administration recently issued its research and development priorities for the fiscal 2025 budget.

Members of the House Freedom Caucus are demanding changes in Pentagon training and programs in exchange for their support of a budget deal.

The commission's interim report lays out 13 immediate recommendations to improve the budget planning process and another 10 possible major changes.