Budget

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

McCarthy threatens to hold up key defense bill until next year

McCarthy's threat comes as Republicans and Democrats are negotiating a final, bicameral version of the bill with the aim of passing it in December.

10 days ago

Airmen assigned to the 28th Bomb Wing recieve a U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer assigned to the 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, after landing at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, in support of a Bomber Task Force mission, Oct. 18, 2022. Bomber missions contribute to joint force lethality and deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific by demonstrating the U.S. Air Force’s ability to operate anywhere in the world at any time in support of the National Defense Strategy. (Senior Airman Yosselin Campos/Air Force)

US Air Force’s ‘divest to invest’ plan is too risky

This strategy may look attractive on paper, but past attempts show that it doesn’t work in practice. Here’s why.

10 days ago

Budget

White House requests $38 billion more in Ukraine aid

If Congress passes the request, it would bring the Ukraine aid total to more than $100 billion since March amid growing House Republican resistance.

Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Bill LaPlante gestures as he speaks on stage Sept. 7, 2022, at the annual Defense News Conference.

Senate to vote on Pentagon contract adjustments amid inflation

The Senate is expected to vote on legislation that would authorize the Pentagon to modify fixed-price contracts as suppliers grapple with inflation.

3 weeks ago

Congress poised to back multiyear weapons purchases, LaPlante says

Congress is expected to expand U.S. weapons production to levels unseen since the Cold War.

3 weeks ago

Pentagon, Congress have trust issues, budget reform panel’s Lord says

Former Pentagon acquisition chief Ellen Lord said the commission has highlighted deep communication shortfalls that are hindering the funding process.

3 weeks ago

What a GOP win in November would mean for defense policy in 2023

Expect a push for more defense spending, more focus on China, and more debate over military social policies.

4 weeks ago

Pentagon’s Shyu, LaPlante push to get critical tech into production

The Pentagon expects the experimentation effort will push critical technology to military users at a faster rate.

4 weeks ago

Pentagon’s Project Maven transition stymied by Congress, official says

Project Maven is being divvied up amid a concerted Pentagon push to study, test and more effectively apply artificial intelligence.

4 weeks ago

Pelosi vows more Ukraine aid amid brewing congressional fight

It's unclear if she can deliver, as House Republicans vow to scale back Ukraine aid if they win the elections and progressives push for Russia diplomacy.

5 weeks ago

US Transportation Command favors buying used sealift ships

Gen. Van Ovost would prefer to continue recapitalizing the nation’s sealift fleet with used vessels rather than design and build new ones.

6 weeks ago

Senate to add $10 billion in Taiwan aid, scale back arms sale reform

A Senate bill more than doubles the initial amount of aid proposed for Taiwan, but scales back language intended to address an arms sale backlog.

6 weeks ago