US lawmakers release $839B compromise defense spending bill
The conferenced defense spending bill would increase funding for both the Air Force and Navy's sixth-generation fighters.
Pentagon & Congress
US completes withdrawal from al-Asad airbase, Iraq says
The move brings to a close more than two decades of American military presence in the western part of the country.
Army readies 1,500 soldiers for possible Minnesota deployment: sources
Two infantry battalions of the Army’s 11th Airborne Division have been given prepare-to-deploy orders, defense officials said.
Feds remind states about law protecting military spouse job licenses
But there's a wrinkle for spouses in Justice Department's new interpretation of the law.
China calls Trump battleship ‘easier target’ amid mixed US reception
Some analysts have suggested the battleship proposal may ultimately not be realistic and instead a move by Trump to jolt awake U.S. shipbuilders.
Trump faces sharper questions over possible military action on Iran
The White House insists military options remain “on the table” regarding Iran, with the Islamic Republic convulsed by nationwide protests.
General tapped to lead SOUTHCOM grilled over forces in Latin America
Renewed interest in Latin America is likely to bring changes to U.S. Southern Command, Donovan acknowledged.
Lunday becomes US Coast Guard’s 28th commandant
Adm. Kevin Lunday was sworn in Thursday as the U.S. Coast Guard’s 28th commandant, nearly a year after he had been acting in the role.
‘Department of War’ rebrand could cost up to $125 million, CBO says
A “modest implementation” of DOW would cost taxpayers about $10 million, the report said. That figure could rise to $125 million if adopted more broadly.
What Americans think about Trump’s military intervention abroad: Poll
More than half of U.S. adults believe Trump has “gone too far” in using the U.S. military to intervene in other countries, according to an AP-NORC poll.
Trump administration lawyers blessed Maduro operation, memo shows
A legal memo that came out days before the U.S. military operation said such a move would “not rise to the level of a war in the constitutional sense.”
Plane used in boat strike painted like civilian aircraft: Report
The plane used by the U.S. military to strike an alleged drug boat off Venezuela last fall was painted to look like a civilian aircraft, AP reports.
Pentagon to start measuring troops’ body fat by waist-to-height ratio
The move replaces traditional height-and-weight tables as the primary measure of body fat standards.
Retired Navy officer takes helm of DOD’s military health care
Bass' top priorities include improving medical readiness and stabilizing the Military Health System.
Pentagon is embracing Musk’s Grok AI chatbot as it draws global outcry
Hegseth announced that Grok will soon go live in DOD and that “all appropriate data” from military IT systems would be available for "AI exploitation."
Pentagon clarifies Hegseth’s ‘putting hands on recruits’ statement
The Defense Department has added more context to provocative comments Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made about aggressive troop training.
Kelly sues Pentagon over attempts to punish him
Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly sued the Pentagon on Monday over attempts to punish him for his warnings about illegal orders.
