All articles tagged with #us department of defense
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.
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has forced out General CD Donahue, the top US Army officer in Europe, who will retire early amid a broader purge of senior officers and a planned reorganization of Europe command; Donahue is known for his role in Ukraine support and as the last US soldier to leave Afghanistan, and his removal comes after the earlier firing of Army Chief of Staff General Randy George, signaling a sweeping shake-up under Hegseth.
GM and Lockheed Martin have formed framework agreements—at the Pentagon’s request—to dramatically accelerate U.S. munition production, including nearly tripling Patriot interceptor output and quadrupling Thaad and Precision Strike Missile production over the next seven years, by leveraging GM’s high-rate manufacturing and digital tools; the partners have not announced specific projects and will invest billions in capital and R&D to bolster the defense industrial base and supply chains.
The Washington Post reports that Elias Irizarry, who was 19 at the January 6 Capitol attack and later pardoned by President Trump, has been hired to work in the Pentagon’s top-secret Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict office, a position requiring high-level clearance. The appointment has alarmed some Defense Department officials who question whether a convicted rioter is suitable for a sensitive counterterrorism role, even as Irizarry expressed regret for his actions.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used the Shangri-La Dialogues to tout improved U.S.-China relations while urging a quiet, more deliberate defense posture in Asia, a stance critics say risks neglecting Asian allies’ security concerns.
The Pentagon will reduce US forces in Europe from four Brigade Combat Teams to three, achieving the lowest European footprint since before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The move is framed as a force posture review aimed at pressuring European allies to shoulder more defense responsibility, following the cancellation of a planned 4,000-troop rotation to Poland and a review of deployments in Germany. Final force dispositions will depend on strategic needs and allies’ contributions, but critics warn the shift could undermine NATO deterrence in a tense security environment.
The Pentagon released 161 files—encompassing photos, witness testimonies, and investigative reports—on unidentified aerial phenomena, labeling them unresolved and inviting private-sector analysis. The staged disclosures come amid congressional pressure and White House interest to increase transparency, with the Defense Department planning rolling releases every few weeks and still noting no verified evidence of alien technology or life.
The Trump administration cites national security to widen a wind-energy crackdown, stalling about 165 onshore wind projects overseen by the Department of Defense—many mid-negotiation or previously deemed low-risk—potentially halting up to 30 GW of capacity that could power roughly 15 million homes, amid ongoing court battles and broader fossil-fuel incentives.
The Pentagon told Congress that U.S. operations in Iran have cost about $25 billion, driven mainly by munitions use, which has depleted stockpiles and raised questions about readiness for other conflicts with China or Russia. The figure, tied to Operation Epic Fury, is not yet reflected in the broader $1.5 trillion budget request, and a further funding request will come after a full cost assessment, even as a fragile ceasefire and naval pressure operations continue in the region.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. military will drop the universal annual flu vaccine mandate, allowing troops to opt in if they choose. He framed the move as ending an overly broad requirement to strengthen war-fighting capabilities, while public health experts warn it could weaken readiness by increasing flu cases, missed duty days and costs.
A rare Pentagon meeting with Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Vatican’s ambassador to the United States, was described as frank and direct, highlighting tensions between the Trump administration and the Catholic Church and underscoring that such talks normally occur through the State Department or White House.
When the Pentagon blacklisted Anthropic over Claude’s potential use in war, a surge of ordinary Americans and tech workers downloaded Claude, subscribed, and praised Anthropic, thrusting Claude into the spotlight and underscoring Anthropic’s growing influence in AI.
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., sharply questioned the Defense Department’s bid to censure and possibly demote Senator Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain, over his public criticism of the Trump administration, arguing that the restrictions cited may only apply to active-duty service members and raising doubts about the DoD’s authority to punish a sitting senator.
The 2026 National Defense Strategy shifts U.S. priorities away from defending European allies and other overseas commitments, directing forces to focus on defending the American homeland and Western Hemisphere amid rising tensions with Russia and China.
Lawmakers reached a bipartisan 1.2 trillion funding package to keep most federal departments funded—including Defense, Homeland Security, Labor, Health and Human Services, HUD, Transportation, and Education—avoiding a shutdown past the January 31 deadline.