Congress

CBO: HASC ‘Space Corps’ To Cost $3.6 Billion Through 2024

The HASC ‘Space Corps’ will be much cheaper than the Trump Administration’s plan for a Space Force, says CBO.

Senate Passes Defense Bill, Prepares To Battle House On Nukes, War Powers

Senate Passes Defense Bill, Prepares To Battle House On Nukes, War Powers
Senate Passes Defense Bill, Prepares To Battle House On Nukes, War Powers

The $750 billion defense policy bill sticks with the administration’s topline, but huge fights loom with the House version. Prepare for a long, hot summer.

GAO Defends Annual Weapons Review: Let’s Look at All the Facts

GAO Defends Annual Weapons Review: Let’s Look at All the Facts
GAO Defends Annual Weapons Review: Let’s Look at All the Facts

Peter Levine, former top staffer at the Senate Armed Services Committee and now with the Institute for Defense Analyses, penned a piece for us critiquing the GAO’s annual report on major weapons systems. The GAO begs to differ with Levine’s conclusions and assertions. Below is their reply, penned by Shelby Oakley, director at GAO. Read…

Senate Blocks Huge Arms Sale To Saudis; Trump Pledges Veto

Senate Blocks Huge Arms Sale To Saudis; Trump Pledges Veto
Senate Blocks Huge Arms Sale To Saudis; Trump Pledges Veto

It’s the second time this year Republicans and Democrats have come together to oppose President Trump’s policy towards Riyadh.

Who Takes Esper’s SecArmy Seat: McCarthy Or Jette?

Who Takes Esper’s SecArmy Seat: McCarthy Or Jette?
Who Takes Esper’s SecArmy Seat: McCarthy Or Jette?

As the three most powerful civilians in the Army Department, Esper, McCarthy, and Jette have formed by all accounts a tight-knit and effective team. That’s particularly remarkable because they’ve had abundant opportunities for conflict as they turned the Army bureaucracy upside down.

OPIR Missile Warning Sats Plow Ahead Amid $$ Turmoil

OPIR Missile Warning Sats Plow Ahead Amid $$ Turmoil
OPIR Missile Warning Sats Plow Ahead Amid $$ Turmoil

Next-Gen OPIR program is moving right along as Lockheed and Raytheon keep their heads down amid funding discussions between the Air Force and Congress.

Former Boeing Exec Shanahan Out at Pentagon, Former Raytheon Lobbyist Esper Steps In

Former Boeing Exec Shanahan Out at Pentagon, Former Raytheon Lobbyist Esper Steps In
Former Boeing Exec Shanahan Out at Pentagon, Former Raytheon Lobbyist Esper Steps In

After five months on the job, the Pentagon’s Acting SecDef is ousted for a new Acting SecDef — keeping the Trump administration’s carousel wheel spinning.

Hill Battle Lifts Off Over Post-INF Missiles

Hill Battle Lifts Off Over Post-INF Missiles
Hill Battle Lifts Off Over Post-INF Missiles

A junior GOP congressman will challenge the Democratic House leadership to restore $96 million in funding for intermediate-ranged conventional missiles, cut by the Democratic majority for fear the new weapons would reignite an arms race that ended in 1987.

Top DoD Official Shank Resigns; SCO Moving To DARPA

Top DoD Official Shank Resigns; SCO Moving To DARPA
Top DoD Official Shank Resigns; SCO Moving To DARPA

“My integrity and belief in SCO’s mission is more important to me than my friendship over many years with Mike (Griffin).”

Congress Gives Trump Rump Space Force

Congress Gives Trump Rump Space Force
Congress Gives Trump Rump Space Force

“Given the DoD’s poor job of presenting how we would move people and what criteria would be used, the congressional pushback is expected,” says one Space Force proponent.

Democrats Won This Budget Battle – But They’re Likely To Lose The War

Democrats Won This Budget Battle – But They’re Likely To Lose The War
Democrats Won This Budget Battle – But They’re Likely To Lose The War

Despite Democratic chairman Adam Smith’s best efforts, the defense budget is likely to creep back up to the full $750 billion the administration asked for.

It’s All Nukes, All Night, At Intense HASC Markup Debate

It’s All Nukes, All Night, At Intense HASC Markup Debate
It’s All Nukes, All Night, At Intense HASC Markup Debate

Democrats and Republicans sparred all night over nukes in the 2020 defense policy bill, but the Democrats had the votes. For now.

NDAA: HASC Doubles Joint AI Funding, Streamlines Software Buys

NDAA: HASC Doubles Joint AI Funding, Streamlines Software Buys
NDAA: HASC Doubles Joint AI Funding, Streamlines Software Buys

Democratic chairman Adam Smith wants to focus on the “cyber fight with Russia and China… that’s really going to happen.”

House Prepares To Debate Low-Yield Nukes, $17B Gap in Defense Funding

House Prepares To Debate Low-Yield Nukes, $17B Gap in Defense Funding
House Prepares To Debate Low-Yield Nukes, $17B Gap in Defense Funding

The top HASC Republican outlines some of the amendments he plans to add to the HASC 2020 defense policy bill, previewing coming debates with the Senate.