Policy
Lawmakers demand answers about $620M Pentagon loan to firm tied to Trump Jr.
In a letter, a group of Democratic Congress members wrote that ProPublica’s reporting on the deal “reveals a staggering level of corruption and influence.”
Trump strips civil-service protections from thousands of feds
Defense, State, DHS positions among those converted to at-will jobs.
Trump's choice of acting intel chief threatens fragile surveillance-powers deal
If William Pulte's appointment is not rescinded, Senate Democrats say, it could sink an extension of FISA Section 702.
New bill aims to regulate military uses of AI
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand also wants to establish a clear chain of human accountability for AI on the battlefield.
Breaking News
Trump signs business-friendlier version of AI executive order
The order asks for just a month of pre-publication access to advanced models, not the 90 days of an earlier draft.
Breaking News
Trump appoints housing official to be acting director of national intelligence
William Pulte, who lacks experience in intelligence, will retain his current post, where he has launched investigations into the president’s political foes.
Ready, fire, aim: Pentagon cut workforce with little analysis before or since
Defense officials concurred with GAO that lessons should be drawn—but gave no indication they will be.
Exclusive
Cyber Force? Senator pushes to create service branch under the Army
Ideas for a cyber service have been floated before. Some experts argue now is the right time.
Exclusive
Iran war needs an inspector general, senator notes
The law says an IG must be appointed when an “overseas contingency operation” surpasses 60 days.
House draft of defense policy bill leaves some of Trump admin’s top priorities unfunded
The draft bill doesn’t include reconciliation dollars.
HASC still waiting for updated E-7 Wedgetail funding request
‘We would like to see that budget amendment,” one senior staffer said.
OPM proposes requiring all feds to sign an NDA
Experts warned the measure, when combined with the federal HR agency’s new power to target employees’ suitability for federal employment, creates a new pathway for Trump administration officials to purge those deemed insufficiently loyal to the president.
Gabbard to resign as director of national intelligence, citing husband’s health
Her exit marks the end of a 16-month tenure overseeing the nation’s spy agencies.
Key Army efforts pinned to lawmakers’ taste for a new reconciliation bill
White House puts funding for munitions, industrial development in precedent-breaking request.
One year in, Army’s transformation efforts are under fire
Hegseth is rethinking his order to offload old systems and bring in new tech.
Exclusive
Hegseth memo calls for sweeping, open-ended review of Pentagon's legal system
It’s the secretary's latest unusual move toward DOD’s military and civilian lawyers.
Hegseth rethinking Army reforms, cuts to aviation
One year after launching the Army Transformation Initiative, SecDef says he's reviewing the to-do list.
Featured eBooks
Congress waits on Iran-war costs while mulling $1.5T defense request
The administration’s latest estimate is $29B, but the Defense Department hasn’t answered lawmakers’ requests for details.
‘It would be insane’ for spy agencies to lack early access to AI models, lawmaker says
Commerce Department should also have a role in AI policy, top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee says.
Pentagon will ‘never again’ rely on a single AI provider, official says
Emil Michael, defense undersecretary for research and engineering, said new agreements with Big Tech companies are a “counterstatement” to the ongoing Anthropic-Pentagon conflict as the agency prioritizes flexible contracts.
