All articles tagged with #us department of defense
The Pentagon fired Stars and Stripes publisher Max Lederer, editor in chief Erik Slavin, and a reporter after the paper criticized DOD interference and participated in a CBS News interview the Pentagon deemed insubordination, signaling a blow to the military newspaper’s editorial independence.
The US government, via the Office of Strategic Capital, approved a $400 million loan to Sunrise Energy to advance its Syerston scandium mine near Parkes, NSW, with a right of first offer on output and a planned US listing; backed by Robert Friedland, the move aims to diversify non-Chinese rare-earth supplies for defence and tech industries, and Sunrise shares rose as production is targeted for the second half of 2028.
Sunrise Energy Metals jumped as much as 29% after the U.S. provided $400 million in long‑term debt financing to back the development of the world’s first primary scandium mine at Sunrise’s Syerston project in New South Wales. The funding, via the U.S. Office of Strategic Capital with a conditional loan commitment from the DoD, fits a broader push to diversify away from China’s dominance in rare earths and establish a scandium value chain for defense and tech uses; the shares later closed over 16% higher, underscoring the strategic importance of critical minerals.”
The U.S. Department of Defense signed a $58.6 billion multiyear contract with Lockheed Martin to procure Patriot interceptors through 2032, dramatically expanding a depleted stockpile and tripling annual production from about 600 to roughly 2,000 interceptors. The deal covers more than 10,000 units and accompanies planned factory investments in Alabama and Arkansas to hire 1,000+ workers, while deliveries to Ukraine and Switzerland are being postponed to prioritize U.S. Gulf-region forces. The move signals a broad push to bolster defenses for potential future conflicts, including against China.
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.