Business

What to Watch for in 2016

It’s likely to be an important transitional year for many defense issues as the Obama administration draws to a close.

Ideas

We’re Long Overdue for Due Diligence in Defense

Defense Secretary Carter deserves applause for cutting the Navy’s LCS, and encouragement to think more broadly.

Business

Putting Civilians in US Troop Support Jobs Could Save Billions, Report Says

Converting 80,000 active-duty jobs to civilian positions could save as much as $5.7B per year, according to a new Congressional Budget Office analysis.

Policy

Obama Quietly Signs Guantanamo Freeze Into Law — But Hints at Executive Action

The president gave the defense authorization bill his signature, but rejected what he called unconstitutional restrictions on his push to close the U.S. military prison in Cuba.

Business

Fate of Pentagon War Budget Left to Obama’s Successor

The Obama administration will submit its final budget to Congress in February, a spending plan that will include tens of billions of dollars for a 15-year-old war in Afghanistan and a new war against ISIS.

Business

Congress Orders $200M Antivirus Scan for the Pentagon's Major Weapons

Buried in the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act is a section requiring evaluations of cyber vulnerabilities in U.S. military weapon systems.

Ideas

Rand Paul Has a Point: How Much Defense Spending is Enough for GOP?

The next GOP debate could find even more substance by making candidates answer Paul’s question to the conservative movement.

Policy

Fate of Defense Authorization Bill Looks Favorable Second Time Around

The Senate overwhelmingly passed the NDAA, sending it to Obama’s desk, where he’s expected to sign it into law.

Threats

China Is Among the World Leaders in 'Secret' Military Spending, Report Says

And 'additional, off-the-books spending' could be as high as 50% of China’s official defense expenditure.

Policy

Budget Deal Is A Big Win for Pentagon

Even though it’s only a two-year agreement, the budget deal passed by Congress and the White House will get the Pentagon past the worst of the spending caps.

Ideas

Trick or Treat: A Pleasant Surprise for the Defense Budget

The debate over the defense budget is not really about defense. But this is the best possible deal.

Threats

Obama Vetoes Defense Policy Bill; Now What?

A partisan proxy war escalates as Obama fulfills his vow to send the annual defense policy bill back to lawmakers.

Business

Obama Vetoes Bill Affecting Troop Pay and Benefits

The legislation includes a 1.3 percent pay raise in 2016 for service members and changes to the military retirement system.

Business

Military Pay and Benefits in Limbo As Obama Weighs Veto

The defense bill includes a 1.3 percent pay raise for troops in 2016, an overhaul of the retirement system, and money for basic housing allowances.

Policy

Defense Policy Bill Heads to Obama, Who Readies Veto Pen

The 2016 NDAA would give the Pentagon all the money the White House requested — but without resolving four-year-old budget caps.

Threats

Senate Moves Defense Policy Bill One Step Closer to Obama’s Veto Pen

But enough Democrats got on board to give Republicans the votes to override it in the Senate.

Science & Tech

$460M CYBERCOM Contract Will Create Digital Munitions

Meanwhile, the military’s digital command hopes to recruit 6,200 operatives to thwart hacks against the US, aid troops overseas, and protect dot-mil.

Threats

Pentagon Warns 2 Million Troops, Workers May Have to Work Without Pay Next Week

The looming government shutdown threatens paychecks for roughly 2 million troops and civilians, but some shrug as this happened before — just two years ago.

Business

White House, Agencies Begin Prepping for ‘Executing an Orderly Shutdown’

OMB is currently reviewing contingency plans submitted by all agencies in preparation for an appropriations lapse.

Policy

McCain Vows One Continuing Resolution Only, Then It’s Budget Deal or Bust

The Armed Service Committee chairman compared his own majority leader’s strategy on defense spending to the administration’s in Iraq and Syria: nonexistent.