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Defense Department

All articles tagged with #defense department

politics1 day ago•68 min saved

Vatican Official Describes Pentagon Run-In With Trump Aides as 'Bullying' and 'Tense'

A Vatican diplomat characterized a January Pentagon encounter with Trump administration officials and Cardinal Christophe Pierre as a tense, aggressive confrontation described as bullying, with U.S. officials allegedly insisting the U.S. military could act as it saw fit and pressing the pope to side with Trump. The disclosures follow reporting by The Free Press and The Pillar, prompting denials from the Trump camp and a counter-narrative from the Pentagon, while tensions between the Vatican and the Trump White House deepen amid Leo XIV’s criticisms of Trump’s policies.

via The Daily Beast|

#defense-department #pentagon #politics

politics2 days ago•5 min saved

DC Circuit Won’t Freeze Anthropic’s Pentagon AI Risk Tag

A three-judge DC Circuit panel declined to pause the government’s designation of Anthropic’s AI as a supply-chain risk, keeping the label in place for DoD contracts despite a California ruling that had temporarily blocked it; the decision underscores ongoing security concerns while litigation proceeds.

via Politico|

#ai #anthropic #dc-circuit-court-of-appeals

technology21 days ago•5 min saved

Anthropic Denies Backdoor, Claims Claude Cannot Be Sabotaged During War

Anthropic says it cannot disable or alter Claude or provide a backdoor during military operations, disputing DoD claims it could sabotage the AI; the dispute centers on supply-chain risk and licensing, with court filings and hearings shaping how Claude may be used by the Pentagon.

via WIRED|

#ai-safety #anthropic #claude

politics25 days ago•66 min saved

Damning Intel Leak Undermines Trump's Iran War Narrative

Insiders say U.S. intelligence warned Trump of Iranian retaliation, contradicting his claim that the escalation was unforeseen, with reports of chaotic planning and limited allied support as Tehran strikes back and the Strait of Hormuz crisis widens oil-market turmoil.

via The Daily Beast|

#defense-department #donald-j-trump #iran

world29 days ago•5 min saved

Hegseth: Strait of Hormuz disruption won't last; plan in place.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth brushed off fears that the Strait of Hormuz would remain blocked due to the Iran war, saying the U.S. has a plan and that traffic will be restored as needed. The conflict sent oil prices higher, while questions about Navy escort readiness and a quick opening of the strait persisted among officials and analysts, who noted skepticism about rapid deployment and execution of a tanker-escort operation.

via CNBC|

#defense-department #iran-war #navy-escort

policy1 month ago•7 min saved

El Paso airport reels as sudden FAA flight ban sparks chaos, texts reveal

POLITICO obtained El Paso International Airport group texts showing night-time concerns as the FAA imposed a temporary airspace closure, with staff seeking information after being told ‘Not an error’ and debating whether the ban was due to a cartel drone incursion or a clash over laser-defense countermeasures; the order disrupted dozens of flights, was lifted the next morning, and highlighted coordination gaps between the FAA and the Defense Department.

via Politico|

#defense-department #drone-incursion #el-paso-international-airport

technology1 month ago•3 min saved

DoD standoff with Anthropic risks $60B in AI funding

Anthropic’s roughly $60 billion in venture-capital backing is under risk as the Defense Department cannot reach a long-term licensing agreement over AI use in weapons and surveillance, prompting political backlash and raising investor concerns about AI’s role in national security.

via Axios|

#ai-licensing #anthropic #autonomous-weapons

defense1 month ago•2 min saved

Pentagon Bans Service Members From Elite Colleges and Think Tanks

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announces a sweeping policy to sever ties with nearly two dozen elite universities and seven prominent think tanks, banning military personnel from enrolling in those institutions starting in September and replacing programs with options at state universities and conservative schools; the move targets institutions the administration deems liberal-leaning and indoctrinating service members, and follows Harvard's earlier ban in this campaign, with 93 military students currently enrolled at affected programs.

via The New York Times|

#defense #defense-department #hegseth

politics1 month ago•6 min saved

Pentagon Pushes Scouting America to Overhaul Policies for Military Backing

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon will review Scouting America's partnership and could pull support if the organization doesn’t overhaul policies, including measures affecting transgender youths and adding a Military Service merit badge; Scouting America says it will implement reforms (such as waiving registration fees for military families and launching a Military Service badge) while keeping its name and continuing to serve girls, noting a long history of military ties and evolving inclusivity.

via CBS News|

#defense-department #dei #military

technology1 month ago•7 min saved

Pentagon pressures Anthropic to unlock Claude for military use or risk contract

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pressed Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei to open Claude for unrestricted military use or face losing the government contract, with possible penalties like a supply-chain risk designation or use of the Defense Production Act. Amodei reaffirmed Anthropic’s safety and ethical lines—no fully autonomous military targeting and no domestic surveillance—highlighting the broader tension between national-security needs and AI ethics as the Pentagon expands its AI partnerships.

via PBS|

#ai-safety #anthropic #claude

technology1 month ago•4 min saved

Pentagon Pushes Anthropic on AI Safety Rules Ahead of Defense Deal

Under pressure from the Trump administration, the Pentagon summoned Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei to Washington to renegotiate a $200 million pilot for using its Claude AI on classified networks, aiming to enforce guardrails similar to those being negotiated with rivals Google Gemini and xAI. Anthropic says it is willing to loosen some limits but insists on safeguards to prevent mass surveillance and autonomous weapons without human oversight, noting it was the first company authorized for the military’s classified networks. The talks highlight the government’s effort to push for broader, lawful use of AI in defense while balancing safety concerns.

via The New York Times|

#ai-guardrails #anthropic #artificial-intelligence

defense2 months ago•4 min saved

Pentagon Overhauls Stars and Stripes to Sharpen Warfighting Focus

The Defense Department announced it will overhaul the military newspaper Stars and Stripes, modernizing it to emphasize warfighting, weapons systems, fitness, lethality and survivability, while reducing wire-service reporting and signaling continued editorial independence as a publication for service members.

via Politico|

#defense #defense-department #editorial-independence

industries2 months ago•20 min saved

Defense Dept backs L3Harris with $1B for pre-IPO missile-motors unit

The Defense Department invested $1 billion in L3Harris via convertible preferred securities that will convert into common stock in an IPO planned for the second half of 2026, creating a majority-owned missile-solutions unit with the government as an anchor investor but no board seats. The move aims to expand U.S. missile capacity, and L3Harris stock rose toward record closes amid a broader defense-focused rally, though congressional approval could be required for the government stake.

via MarketWatch|

#arsenal-of-freedom #defense-department #industries

politics4 months ago•2 min saved

Pentagon IG completes 'Signalgate' report on Hegseth's Signal use, sends findings to Congress

An investigation into Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's use of the Signal app has concluded, with classified findings sent to lawmakers. The probe focused on a Signal chat involving Hegseth and other security officials discussing a 2025 Yemen military strike, which Hegseth and his team claimed was unclassified. The findings are expected to be released soon, amid ongoing debates over the classification and handling of sensitive military information.

via ABC News|

#classified-findings #defense-department #hegseth

politics5 months ago•1 min saved

Trump's Spending Moves During Government Shutdown

The Trump administration is using repurposed Defense Department funds to pay US military members during a government shutdown, an action that is likely illegal and highlights ongoing financial challenges for federal workers.

via vox.com|

#defense-department #funds #government-shutdown