Defense
DOGE now has approval authority for defense IT, consulting contracts
A new memo from the Defense Department's acquisition leader spells out what agencies and components have to inform the Department of Government Efficiency before proceeding on certain contracts.
DOD’s budget request finally drops, combining a real decrease with a one-time boost
Officials are relying heavily on Congress to pass the reconciliation bill.
DHS expects Iran’s cyber forces will target US networks after strikes on nuclear sites
Iran has often targeted U.S. digital systems. Last year, Iranian hackers pilfered and distributed sensitive documents from inside President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign.
Lawmakers rip into defense secretary over flat Pentagon budget
The Pentagon is counting on one-time funds from a reconciliation bill to fund investments in shipbuilding and missile defense.
Hegseth wants to insource work—but doesn't understand why it was outsourced
COMMENTARY | The Defense Department’s recent contracting directives are sweeping, but will they be successful?
Air Force says Qatar jet retrofit will cost less than $400M
Other defense officials have estimated it could be over $1 billion.
Pentagon won’t say how many civilians have left since February
The department has used a mix of layoffs and voluntary resignations to cut workforce.
Hegseth halves staff of Pentagon’s testing-oversight office
The move may reduce the quality of the Office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation’s second opinions, but may not affect safety, former officials said.
Pentagon orders civilian employees to submit money-saving ideas
It’s the last step in the "5 bullet points" weekly email exercise.
The DOD’s tech agency braces for 10% workforce cut
The agency hopes to bring some staff back in a “surgical rehiring,” said Lt. Gen. Paul Stanton, head of the Defense Information Systems Agency.
Space Force losing 14% of its civilian workers
That’s more than other military branches, and it means the service will end the year with nearly 1,000 fewer people than expected.
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Pentagon accepts Qatari jet to use as Air Force One
The Air Force is preparing to award a contract to modify the luxury jet.
Hegseth to Air Force: Figure out how to modify Qatari jet
Converting the luxury plane into Air Force One could cost more than $1 billion, one senator said.
Trump’s Pentagon-personnel nominee wants to curb DOGE data access
But Anthony Tata, a retired Army general, couldn’t outrun past inflammatory and social media posts during his confirmation hearing.
Hegseth orders elimination of 10% of general, admiral jobs
Memo also orders the elimination of one-fifth of 4-star posts. No deadline, few guidelines given for shakeup.
‘Gimmicks’: GOP lawmakers slam Trump’s ‘trillion-dollar’ defense-spending proposal
White House claims of a 13% increase rest on unusual maneuvers, not a higher DOD budget line.
Hegseth issues Army a lengthy to-do list
The Wednesday memo includes deadlines for weapons and tech, orders to streamline units and organizations, and more.
Putting SPACECOM HQ in Alabama would have saved Pentagon $426 million, DOD IG says
But then-SPACECOM commander Gen. Dickinson was worried the move would result in significant personnel losses.
‘What a mess for me and many others’: DOD’s murky hiring freeze has civilians in limbo
Some employees are still living in hotels, their belongings shipped overseas.
Hegseth gives Defense leaders less than two weeks to lay out staffing cuts, changes
A Friday memo opens a new phase in the Defense secretary’s hurried effort to shrink the department's workforce.
