Defense One

Ideas

Give Troops The Pay and Benefits They Deserve

The Senate is all that stands between troops and the pay and benefits they actually deserve. Military families have done enough and the future force is at stake.

Norb Ryan
September 18, 2015

Policy

Lawmakers Reheat War Over Defense vs Non-Defense Spending

The announcement from Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell is seen as a coup for Democrats who want a plan to raise budget caps on both defense and nondefense spending.

Sarah Mimms, National Journal
September 17, 2015

Policy

Carter: Congressional Inaction on Defense Budget Is Dangerous and Embarrassing

U.S. defense secretary also calls on China to halt island-building, and touts coming personnel reforms.

Bradley Peniston
September 16, 2015

Policy

Politics Puts Iowa Arsenal Between a Rock Island and a Hard Place

The military’s largest weapons manufacturing arsenal is one of many facilities stymied by Washington’s budgetary inaction. But you won’t hear about it on the campaign trail.

Molly O'Toole
September 15, 2015

Threats

Pentagon Moves Money to Counter Russia

The midyear budget request to Congress includes more money for submarine detection devices, more powerful guns on the Army’s Stryker vehicles, and improvements to nuclear command centers.

Marcus Weisgerber
July 8, 2015

Policy

NATO Members’ Defense Spending, in Two Charts

The alliance’s easternmost members are ratcheting up their budgets as Russian threats loom.

Kedar Pavgi
June 22, 2015

Business

Report: US Needs New Small Nuclear Bombs

CSIS’ Clark Murdock argues that only such weapons can deter rogue states from seeking nukes of their own.

Marcus Weisgerber
June 21, 2015

Policy

Democrats Retreat In the Battle Over Defense Budget 'Gimmick'

An 'overstuffed' war fund is ok with Democrats in a defense policy bill but not in a spending bill, adding further uncertainty to a key measure already facing a veto threat.

Fawn Johnson
June 17, 2015

Policy

Senate Attempts To Arm Kurds Directly, Reform Military Justice Fall Short

The Senate voted to move forward with the annual defense authorization bill earlier than in recent years, but it's as peppered with controversy as ever.

Molly O'Toole
June 16, 2015

Ideas

The Pentagon's War Budget Won't Be Easy To Roll Back

Congress has too many reasons to keep overseas contingency operations funding as it is.

Janine Davidson and Emerson T. Brooking, Council on Foreign Relations
June 16, 2015

Policy

Jeb Bush Enters 2016 Race, Keeping National Security at a Distance

Bush announced his candidacy with a promise to be the optimistic candidate of ‘Today and Tomorrow’ — and no word on his father’s and brother’s wars in the Middle East.

Molly O'Toole
June 15, 2015

Policy

No. 2 Democrat Launches Standoff over Defense Spending ‘Gimmick’

The GOP shot down Sen. Dick Durbin’s amendment, but look for its main idea to resurface when the spending bill hits the Senate floor.

Molly O'Toole
June 11, 2015

Policy

McCain Brokers Compromise That Would Let Obama Close Gitmo

But there’s a big if: Congress has to approve the president's closure plan.

Molly O'Toole
May 14, 2015

Policy

‘Road to Nowhere’: Defense Secretary Slams GOP Defense Budget

One day after Republicans passed a budget resolution that would boost defense spending, Pentagon leaders called it irresponsible and dangerous.

Molly O'Toole
May 6, 2015

Policy

Congress, White House on Collision Course Over Guantanamo

GOP lawmakers are trying to block Obama’s last chance to close the prison.

Molly O'Toole
May 4, 2015

Policy

Democrats May Delay GOP Defense Bill Until Spending Caps Are Lifted

In both chambers, the minority wants to stop the majority from passing bills that skirt or exceed funding caps.

Alex Brown
May 4, 2015

Ideas

Congress’ Flabby Defense Budgets Aren’t Entirely Lawmakers’ Fault

The Obama administration’s national security strategy is too vague to promote efficient budgeting.

Rachel Rizzo
April 26, 2015

Policy

Thornberry’s Acquisition Bill: Solid Contact, But No Home Run

The HASC chairman proposes several good ideas and several of less use.

Alex Haber and Justin McFarlin
April 8, 2015

Science & Tech

Why the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Dollars Don't Add Up

This is not the first time the Pentagon has had difficulty labeling its cyber investments.

Aliya Sternstein
March 31, 2015

Policy

Defense Trumps Domestic Programs as House Passes GOP Budget

After months of chaos, the GOP got the ball rolling on a budget that still faces an uncertain future in the Senate.

Lauren Fox, National Journal
March 26, 2015

The Senate is all that stands between troops and the pay and benefits they actually deserve. Military families have done enough and the future force is at stake.

The an­nounce­ment from Kentucky Senator Mitch Mc­Con­nell is seen as a coup for Demo­crats who want a plan to raise budget caps on both de­fense and nondefense spend­ing.

U.S. defense secretary also calls on China to halt island-building, and touts coming personnel reforms.

The military’s largest weapons manufacturing arsenal is one of many facilities stymied by Washington’s budgetary inaction. But you won’t hear about it on the campaign trail.

The midyear budget request to Congress includes more money for submarine detection devices, more powerful guns on the Army’s Stryker vehicles, and improvements to nuclear command centers.

The alliance’s easternmost members are ratcheting up their budgets as Russian threats loom.

CSIS’ Clark Murdock argues that only such weapons can deter rogue states from seeking nukes of their own.

An 'overstuffed' war fund is ok with Democrats in a defense policy bill but not in a spending bill, adding further uncertainty to a key measure already facing a veto threat.

The Senate voted to move forward with the annual defense authorization bill earlier than in recent years, but it's as peppered with controversy as ever.

Congress has too many reasons to keep overseas contingency operations funding as it is.

Bush announced his candidacy with a promise to be the optimistic candidate of ‘Today and Tomorrow’ — and no word on his father’s and brother’s wars in the Middle East.

The GOP shot down Sen. Dick Durbin’s amendment, but look for its main idea to resurface when the spending bill hits the Senate floor.

But there’s a big if: Congress has to approve the president's closure plan.

One day after Republicans passed a budget resolution that would boost defense spending, Pentagon leaders called it irresponsible and dangerous.

GOP lawmakers are trying to block Obama’s last chance to close the prison.

In both chambers, the minority wants to stop the majority from passing bills that skirt or exceed funding caps.

The Obama administration’s national security strategy is too vague to promote efficient budgeting.

The HASC chairman proposes several good ideas and several of less use.

This is not the first time the Pentagon has had difficulty labeling its cyber investments.

After months of chaos, the GOP got the ball rolling on a budget that still faces an uncertain future in the Senate.

The announcement from Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell is seen as a coup for Democrats who want a plan to raise budget caps on both defense and nondefense spending.