Policy

The Provision That Could Destroy the Sequester

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Michael Enzi added a small provision into the Senate GOP budget designed to provide the flexibility to alter budget caps again.

Policy

How the White House and Congress Plan To Boost Defense: Ignore Sequestration

Washington is really planning to avoid dealing with the budget caps, and boost defense spending anyway.

Ideas

Lawmakers Should Listen to the Budget Hawks, Not the Defense Hawks

There are plenty of ways the Pentagon could spend its money more efficiently.

Policy

GOP Budget Hawks Want To Use War Funds To Skirt Defense Caps

McCain, but not everyone, dismissed using OCO funds as a 'dodge' around ending sequestration and getting back to a normal budget process.

Business

The Military's Cybersecurity Budget in 4 Charts

The White House is pitching $5.5 billion in cyber spending for FY 16. Here's what that money looks like.

Business

Navy To Increase the Number of Deployed Ships to the Middle East, Asia

The U.S. Navy’s new maritime strategy calls for more forward-deployed ships and preparing for war against a near-peer and insurgents, including Islamic State militants.

Ideas

The Air Force's Argument for Retiring the A-10 Makes No Sense

Service leaders claim the decision is based on cost and effectiveness. A close analysis of the data says otherwise.

Policy

Boats, Biometrics and Other Items in the Homeland Security Funding Bill

Congress just authorized $750 million for the Department of Homeland Security's cybersecurity operations and approved a new biometrics program for border agents.

Business

Bob Hale: Targeted Pentagon Budget Cuts Likely

Ashton Carter is the fourth defense secretary to lobby against sequestration, but former Pentagon comptroller Robert Hale says budget cuts are more likely.

Policy

How the DHS Standoff Ended, Avoiding Security Shutdown

Enough Republicans finally dropped their protest of Obama's immigration policies to pass a bill funding the Homeland Security Department for the fiscal year.

Policy

Kerry Presses Congress for More Power and Money To Fight ISIS

With ‘no military solution’ echoing in Washington, Secretary of State John Kerry tells Congress to put the money where his mouth is: into the non-military efforts to defeat the Islamic State.

Ideas

Why Size Doesn’t Matter When Judging the Intelligence Community

Instead of criticizing how big the Intelligence Community has grown, let’s get the US to do a better job explaining why.

Ideas

Reform Pentagon Acquisition By Slowing Down the F-35

John McCain and Ash Carter want real acquisition reform? Great, they can start by slowing – or stopping – the F-35.

Policy

McConnell: 'Up to House' To Fund Homeland Security

Only 16 days remain before funding for the department expires, and Congress remains more gridlocked than ever on the issue.

Ideas

What the Military Compensation Commission Must Do To Succeed

History shows that policymakers listen to blue ribbon defense commissions when they’re done right – like this one was.

Science & Tech

White House Project Will Yield Brain-Based Lie Detectors

How near-future advances in functional brain imaging will make enhanced interrogation an obsolete method of obtaining information.

Ideas

How Reforming Benefits Could Undermine the Pentagon's Future

The Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission's recommendations are appealing to reformers. But here's how they could actually end up doing irreversible harm to the all-volunteer force.

Policy

Defense Cuts Threaten To Split the GOP

Republicans have little room for error in their bid to pass a budget, and sequestration is forcing a rethink of conventional priorities.

Policy

Democrats Hit GOP Over National Security in Homeland Funding Bill Fight

Citing Paris, ISIS and even 9/11, Democrats try to gain some leverage over the GOP in a fight that leaves the Homeland Security Department's future in limbo.

Policy

The Pentagon’s Weapon Wish Lists Could Disappear

The military’s billion-dollar wish lists for weapons that did not make it onto the Pentagon’s budget might disappear as lawmakers decide whether they’re worth it.