Ideas

We tried ‘fighting China’ with lower budgets. It didn’t go well.

Tabletop exercises hosted by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments offer one big lesson for the fiscal 2026 spending plan.

  • Travis Sharp, Casey Nicastro and Evan Braden Montgomery
Threats

The D Brief: DOD-shakeup proposals due in days; Border-ops price tag; New Army tech; Rocketmakers’ green light; And a bit more.

  • Bradley Peniston and Ben Watson
Policy

Service leaders beg for flexibility as full-year continuing resolution looms

Without a new budget—or relief from the strictures of its absence—the military can’t start new projects or pay for the unexpected.

  • Meghann Myers
Policy

Space Force hopes it gains from Hegseth’s budget shift

Vice chief says service is looking for things to cut—and has suggestions for things to buy.

  • Lauren C. Williams
Ideas

Don't cut this key driver of technological advantage

Defense-related research and development at America’s universities has helped make the U.S. military the best in the world.

  • Abigail Robbins
Threats

The D Brief: SecDef seeks $8B shift; Trump’s Ukraine plans, decried; Quantum chip breakthrough?; Warship maintenance goals; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Policy

Hegseth seeks to shift $50 billion in FY26 budget proposal

Money for “so-called ‘climate change’ and other woke programs” would move to Trump priorities.

  • Audrey Decker
Threats

The D Brief: Congress, DOGE seek DOD cuts; US, Russia warm ties in talks; US drones over Mexico; Nuke-stockpile workers fired, rehired; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson, Bradley Peniston and Meghann Myers
Threats

The D Brief: Hegseth’s town hall; Trump: annex Canada; Purge reaches academies, schools; Full-year CR?; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Crash update; May or June for next budget?; Navy’s nimble combat tuneups; China’s big new military HQ; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: NATO’s Baltic problem; Denmark ups military spending; MADIS vs. drones; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson, Meghann Myers and Audrey Decker
Threats

Costs of the CR: Marines will miss full strength, and more

A continuing resolution is better than a shutdown, but it’s still a stopgap that hurts.

  • Patrick Tucker
Ideas

In defense of the military’s unfunded priority lists

The service branches’ “wish lists” are a key part of Congress’ oversight process.

  • Mackenzie Eaglen, John Ferrari and Elaine McCusker
Threats

The D Brief: What’s next for Syria?; Defense-policy bill unveiled; New counter-UAV strategy; Some GOPers unsold on Hegseth; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: $7.3B request for sub work; New promotion hold; Musk’s conflicts of interest; Trump’s Africa policy; And a bit more.

  • Bradley Peniston and Ben Watson
Science & Tech

Air Force hedges on next-gen tanker plans

Plans for USAF future aircraft programs look too pricey, service secretary says.

  • Audrey Decker
Threats

The D Brief: Kyiv hikes taxes; DOD’s space turf war; Smart new drone; Tornadoes shred Florida roofs; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Ideas

National security deserves better than House Speaker’s 6-month CR plan

Bipartisan leaders should insist on—and meet—a tighter deadline for the fiscal 2025 spending bills.

  • Seamus P. Daniels and Todd Harrison
Ideas

Defense One Radio, Ep. 162: Europe in a tight spot

Patrick Tucker unpacks findings from his recent trip to Prague for the 2024 Global Security Conference.

  • Defense One Staff
Threats

The D Brief: Pentagon’s shutdown alarm; US-China military talks; US to OK ATACMS strikes?; RIP, Lt. Jones; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
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