All articles tagged with #pentagon
The Pentagon has lifted the suspension of South Carolina National Guard helicopter pilots who were sidelined after a July 4 beach event, allowing them to return to duty and resume operations.
The Pentagon, funded at nearly $1 trillion, is reportedly running short of cash as Congress has not approved a roughly $67 billion supplemental funding request, amid disputes over information about the war with Iran and concerns about sustaining operations.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signs a memo establishing a Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for autonomy (DRPM-UxS) to centrally oversee all unmanned and autonomous systems—covering ground vehicles, all small air vehicles, and most surface vessels—reporting to the Deputy Defense Secretary. The DRPM-UxS will be the single joint integrator for UxS programs, with the Defense Innovation Unit as the primary industry interface. DAWG and JIATF 401 become deputy offices under the DRPM-UxS, and some programs remain outside its scope (e.g., MUSV and major airframes). No individual is named yet to fill the role, which aims to speed fielding of UxS capabilities and cut bureaucratic delays.
Speaker Mike Johnson faces a hardline revolt within the House GOP as Rep. Anna Paulina Luna leads a bloc blocking floor action on Trump’s elections overhaul and the Pentagon policy bill; the defeat, 198-224, highlights leadership struggles and the difficulty in advancing Johnson’s agenda amid intra-party divisions.
Sen. Tim Kaine accuses Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of letting a personal grudge drive staffing decisions after Hegseth ousted Gen. Christopher Donahue, head of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, who plans to retire as part of a sweeping Pentagon purge; Kaine and others question whether merit or loyalty drove the moves, while Donahue’s exit is framed as a routine transition with Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie stepping in.
A Republican on the House Armed Services Committee says Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s firings and promotion delays at the Pentagon—affecting more than two dozen senior commanders—have created a climate of fear and harmed readiness, even as the administration pursues Iran policy and leadership shakeups.
Iran’s missile and drone strikes hit NSA Bahrain, the US Navy base in Bahrain, damaging the command headquarters and several other facilities; US officials say no personnel were killed and most sailors were evacuated, but a Wall Street Journal investigation based on satellite imagery suggests the damage was greater than publicly acknowledged. The strikes have prompted the Pentagon to rethink America’s Gulf footprint, including possible base redesigns, relocations, or dispersed command nodes, with Israel mentioned as a potential hosting site. Total war costs remain unclear, CSIS estimates about $40 billion overall and base damages at roughly $2.2–$5.1 billion, while rebuilding NSA Bahrain could cost around $400 million.
The Pentagon has reimposed a mandatory influenza vaccination policy for service members and related personnel after a flu outbreak sickened about 300 people, signaling a renewed emphasis on readiness and public health.
Trump’s administration asks Congress for about $88 billion in an emergency funding package to cover the Iran-war costs (about $67.1 billion for the Pentagon, including billions for munitions), plus $11.1 billion for farm relief, and additional funds for Ebola response, DC projects, and infrastructure like a modernized Penn Station, with regulatory tweaks on hemp and E15 fuel on the side. Democrats warn the price tag is high amid opposition to the war, and Republicans are split on how to package the funding, potentially complicating passage of a defense-heavy bill and broader domestic spending.
Republican lawmakers expressed misgivings about a proposed $350 billion defense spending boost as part of a plan to lift Pentagon funding well above current levels, insisting on pay-fors and offsets. In a Capitol Hill meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, many GOP members called for policy riders or reforms (such as voting rules or defunding certain programs) and an audit of the Defense Department before endorsing the package. Passage would require near-unanimous GOP support and reconciliation steps, amid Trump’s push for rapid approval, with Senate timing and specifics still unsettled.
Fortune reports that while the Pentagon initially cited about $29 billion in direct costs for the Iran war, experts say the true bill is around $200 billion already and could climb toward $1 trillion when you include replacement costs for munitions, repairing damaged bases, and broader economic spillovers. Replacement costs for missiles have surged, with inventory costs underestimating future expenses, and hundreds of billions may be needed to repair U.S. installations in the Middle East over the next few years. The war has also driven energy prices higher, adding roughly $61.7 billion in extra gasoline and diesel costs for Americans by late June, while the global economy faces slower growth and the national debt continues to rise.
The Pentagon has told lawmakers it needs roughly $80 billion from Congress to cover costs of the U.S. war against Iran, part of a broader defense funding effort that faces skeptical lawmakers and questions about tying war spending to a larger spending package.
The Pentagon is asking Congress for about $80 billion to prepare for potential Iran-related military action, as today’s primaries unfold; at the same time, coverage of Donald Trump’s Reflecting Pool renovation in Washington centers on timing and readiness for the 250th anniversary, with security patrols and concerns about the coating and algae bloom.
The Pentagon has told senators it needs roughly $80 billion in a supplemental to finance the U.S. war with Iran, part of a broader drive to fund a sweeping defense budget. The White House has not yet formally requested the Iran package and is seeking about $1.5 trillion for the Pentagon overall; lawmakers from both parties are skeptical about the costs of war and how to structure the funding, with talks linking the Iran package to disaster relief and other aid.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s plan to grade NATO allies’ contributions and tie US funding to performance — with a six-month review and basing questions — seems out of step with European leaders, who say allies are already boosting defense spending, accelerating weapon production, and strengthening air defenses and mobility to deter Russia and support Ukraine. They cite 2025 defense spending jumps and ongoing steps to speed procurement and improve Europe-led defense, making it unclear what more the review would achieve without undermining alliance solidarity.