Ideas
We can buy more weapons. We can’t buy more time.
Three things Congress should do to keep America’s window of vulnerability from growing.
Policy
Here’s what Trump’s new ‘Space Academy’ could mean for the US military
A new source for commissioned officers—but is it needed?
Science & Tech
Can AI help the Marines simplify sustainment in the Pacific?
The service is testing a “logistics decision engine” at the theater level.
Threats
A Pacific conflict may not look like conventional war, SOCPAC commander says
At an irregular-warfare forum in Hawaii, commanders offer warnings and advice.
Sponsor Content
GovExec TV: Five Questions with Jeff Smith
Discover how software defined communications and rapid engineering help defense agencies strengthen resilience, interoperability and mission readiness.
Science & Tech
Privacy-focused communication app aims for military customers and beyond
When adversaries can forge faces and voices in real time, traditional secure messaging is no longer enough.
Science & Tech
US military bought commercial satellite images of alleged narco airstrips, Chinese naval fleet
The Space Force can improve how it embraces commercial intel, a new GAO report says.
Science & Tech
NSA wants access to ‘all’ AI models, top official says
The spy agency is taking a key role in the government’s new voluntary model-testing program, though its deputy director did not say which companies are participating.
Sponsor Content
Supporting decision dominance through financial, corporate, and trade intelligence
Achieve decision dominance with integrated financial, corporate and trade intelligence that reveals hidden networks and strengthens defense strategy.
Threats
FBI disables China-linked hacking tools used against US agencies
A hacking group used the tools to target networks belonging to NASA, the Federal Reserve, the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Senate and the departments of Energy, Justice and Health and Human Services.
Business
Army selects 5 companies to build nuclear microreactors on bases, under new $2 billion deal
The service’s plans for 20 on-base microreactors come amid a uranium enrichment shortage.
Voices
Policy
Senior officers advised Hegseth to keep civilian-protection program. He axed it anyway
The U.S. military has killed hundreds of noncombatants since gutting its Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response mission. The blowback may lead to a partial restoration.
Threats
Treasury sanctions Iranian hackers tied to critical-infrastructure breaches
Four of the five people named in the cyber action were also charged last week in the Justice Department’s expanded Mabna Institute case.
Policy
As US preps for more space launches, WH orders integration with air-traffic control
New space-transportation policy orders Pentagon, NASA, and Transportation to work together as the nation's outdated systems are improved.
Policy
Lawmaker pushes for AI containment language in FRONTIER Act
Rep. Suhas Subramanyam is advocating for a September markup of the landmark AI legislation along with new language following the OpenAI-Hugging Face incident.
Policy
NSA's non-disclosure agreements lack whistleblower-rights provisions: watchdog
The inspector general report comes as the Trump administration considers imposing a standard NDA across government.
Exclusive
Business
New contract aims to keep Space Force’s multi-billion-dollar projects on budget
Integrate was just for the service’s complicated launch programs. Now, it’s expanding.
Ideas
The wrong way to review US force posture in Europe
Loyalty tests don’t build loyalty. They erode it.
Threats
AI-enabled deception threatens future operations, raises chances of large conflict, says Special Operations leader
“The information environment itself is much less transparent” now than in the past, and AI will make it worse, officials say.
Business
There’s no shortcut to replenish US munitions stockpiles
Firms are pitching low-cost munitions and the Pentagon is making weapons deals. It won’t immediately fix the Iran-stockpile problem.
Exclusive
Defense Systems
Golden Dome Caucus chair says building support, funding for missile shield is a ‘tough slog’
Rep. Jeff Crank, R-Colo., told Defense One that funding the war in Iran threatens the missile-defense project.
Threats
DOJ charges 17 Iranians in cybertheft campaign
Prosecutors say the Mabna Institute stole 31.5 terabytes of academic data and breached email accounts at U.S. agencies and companies.
Science & Tech
What Trump’s tech strategy means for the military, deterring China, and the future of AI
The strategy includes key provisions to encourage innovation—but also has a glaring omission.
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