Policy
Senators take another crack at solving over-classification
The bipartisan Classification Reform for Transparency Act would establish a task force to narrow the criteria for classifying documents and make it harder for agencies to exempt records from automatic declassification.
Threats
The US might lose a war with China, congressional commission says
Insufficient industry, readiness, innovation, and funding hamper military’s ability to prevail in conflict, key experts find.
Threats
US, Japan, South Korea sign pact amid ‘deteriorating’ regional security
Agreement signed by defense chiefs is to “deepen trilateral security cooperation”; US, Japan also conclude missile accord.
Policy
US Forces Japan to be upgraded to warfighting command
The shift will move operational control of Japan-based forces east from Hawaii and, officials say, deepen cooperation with the Japanese military.
Business
F-35’s price might rise, Lockheed warns
After years of declines, the jet’s cost is being pushed by upgrades, inflation, and a proposal to buy fewer of them.
Policy
Unpacking Harris' record on defense civilians and workforce
The vice president has fought discriminatory pay practices, helped guide how the government uses AI, and championed public-sector unions.
Business
Lockheed won’t get paid in full yet for upgraded F-35s, even as deliveries resume
The jets are being shipped with incomplete software, so the Pentagon is withholding part of its payment.
Business
Air Force brought in hard-nosed negotiator to close E-7 deal with Boeing
The service was struggling to reach an agreement for its new radar plane.
Policy
Pentagon’s new cyber rules are ‘stifling’ foreign suppliers, advisors say
The soon-to-be-mandatory cybersecurity certification—and a 2018 OSD reorganization—are slowing vital work, the Defense Innovation Board says.
Business
The Pentagon is paying a consultant up to $2.4B to boost submarine production
Deloitte Consulting is to provide the labor, equipment, and materials to push annual U.S. production to three subs.
Policy
'Fire every single mid-level bureaucrat': Vance on federal employees
Trump's new VP pick has taken aim at Defense Department civilians.
Policy
Several Pentagon IT programs still lack a cyber strategy, watchdog finds
The programs, used daily by DOD employees, do not even comply with decade-old cybersecurity requirements, GAO concludes.
Ideas
The US can improve Egypt’s security at minimal expense. It should do so, post-haste
Cairo is a complicated and beleaguered—yet valuable—partner in a region of chaos.
Defense Systems
A key Pentagon data-analysis tool is getting ease-of-use upgrades
The Advana platform is being rebuilt to handle data differently.
Threats
V-22s won’t return to full flight operations until mid-2025
But some lawmakers are worried about the Osprey flying at all.
Policy
DOD CIO resigns to take university post
John Sherman will become dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M.
Policy