Threats

Did the Coronavirus Escape from a Chinese Lab? Here’s What the Pentagon Says

Gen. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, directly addressed ‘rumor and speculation’ that COVID-19 is a made-in-China weapon of war.

Business

Pentagon Orders 60 Machines that Disinfect Desperately Needed N95 Masks

Each Battelle-made machine can clean up to 80,000 masks per day, allowing healthcare workers treating coronavirus patients to reuse them up to 20 times.

Science & Tech

Pentagon Supercomputers Puzzle Out How to Safely Airlift Coronavirus Patients

And that's just one of the various pandemic-related problems that Defense Department supercomputers are chewing on.

Threats

Wear Homemade Masks If You Can't Get Real Ones, Pentagon Tells Its People

N95 respirators and surgical masks will be reserved for health care workers and patients, the Defense Department said in a series of memos this week.

Policy

US Military Can Do More to Help with Coronavirus, House Armed Services Chief Says

The House Armed Services Committee’s top Democrat says the Pentagon needs to “get creative” in its response.

Policy

Trump Removes Acting Pentagon IG Slated to Lead Pandemic Oversight

Glenn Fine was ousted from the Defense Department’s acting IG position on Monday.

Policy

Acting Navy Secretary Quits After Slamming Fired CO to Carrier Crew

Thomas Modly flew to Guam on Monday, made a 15-minute speech aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt, and spent the rest of the day trying to wriggle out of trouble.

Ideas

So Much for Keeping the Military Out of Politics

Acting Navy Secretary Modly’s Trumpian approach to the military and his firing of a carrier captain has gone over like a lead anchor. Now members of Congress are calling for his own firing.

Ideas

We Were Warned

When the inevitable inquiry into the government's response to COVID-19 happens, it will conclude that signs of a coming crisis were everywhere.

Ideas

National Security in the Age of Pandemics

We cannot reduce the danger and damage of the next pandemic by merely adding it to the ever-expanding laundry list of missions we expect the military to handle.

Threats

Thousands of Federal Employees Have The Coronavirus

Many more are quarantined due to possible exposure as employees are on the frontlines fighting COVID-19 and providing essential services.

Threats

Aircraft Carrier Captain Fired For ‘Poor Judgement’ In Sending Coronavirus Letter

Acting Secretary Modly’s Thursday decision to sack the skipper of Theodore Roosevelt was quickly criticized as retaliation for embarrassing Navy leaders.

Business

Military Leaders Worry About Health of Commercial Airlines

The leader of U.S. Transportation Command is looking for ways to give them work.

Business

Pentagon Will Modify Hundreds of Contracts for Coronavirus Response

The Defense Department is ramping up the purchase of certain items, including ventilators, in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Threats

Coronavirus Is Rising Around US Military, Defense Infrastructure, Analysis Shows

The Govini assessment indicates that COVID-19 is about to hit military bases and manufacturing hubs in the southern and western United States.

Threats

Military Leaders Ask to Delay Budget Planning To Focus on Coronavirus, Let Staff Stay Home

But the Defense Department's No. 2 told Army, Navy, and Air Force budget planners to figure a different solution.

Policy

Inside The Pentagon’s Lurching Efforts To Protect Its People from the Coronavirus

As the alarms rose in February and early March, lower-echelon commanders wondered what to do. Some servicemembers blame leaders who took their cues from the White House.

Business

Pentagon Bracing for Weapon-Delivery Delays Due to Coronavirus

Navy says it will “work out” the virus’ impact on projects with companies.

Threats

Marine Is First Known Service Member Assigned to the Pentagon with COVID-19

A U.S. Marine has become the first disclosed case of coronavirus among the thousands of people who work in the world's largest office building.

Business

As Stocks Sink, Pentagon Fears Foreigners Will Buy Control of US Defense Firms

The coronavirus pandemic has made vetting foreign investment more important than ever, officials say.