Congress passes $825 billion defense spending bill amid political battles, government shutdown threat

Congress passes $825 billion defense spending bill amid political battles, government shutdown threat
Congress passes $825 billion defense spending bill amid political battles, government shutdown threat

For the Pentagon, the bill’s passage signifies some return to normal order after having operated the first six months of the fiscal year under a continuing resolution.

Army, CENTCOM ask Congress for spending jump for counter-drone mission

Army, CENTCOM ask Congress for spending jump for counter-drone mission
Army, CENTCOM ask Congress for spending jump for counter-drone mission

The Army has sent lawmakers a $2.2 billion unfunded priority list for FY25, while US Central Command says it would happily funnel an additional $450 million towards regional security.

Replicator, planes and multi-year deals: What’s in the new FY24 defense spending bill

Replicator, planes and multi-year deals: What’s in the new FY24 defense spending bill
Replicator, planes and multi-year deals: What’s in the new FY24 defense spending bill

The bipartisan spending package, released early this morning, increases defense funding by $27 billion over the previous year’s enacted budget and includes a number of key provisions the department had requested.

Navy’s new 30-year shipbuilding plan sketches 2 paths for future manned ship fleet

Navy’s new 30-year shipbuilding plan sketches 2 paths for future manned ship fleet
Navy’s new 30-year shipbuilding plan sketches 2 paths for future manned ship fleet

Both plans would shrink the fleet to 280 ships by fiscal 2027, then grow them back from there to a high of 387 ships if one of the options is followed.

The difference between artificial intelligence and machine learning and why it matters

The difference between artificial intelligence and machine learning and why it matters
The difference between artificial intelligence and machine learning and why it matters

A Breaking Defense webinar with experts from CDAO, APL, and CNAS gets into the question of defining artificial intelligence vs machine learning.

New Pentagon weapons tester pledges to eschew defense contractor jobs after departure

New Pentagon weapons tester pledges to eschew defense contractor jobs after departure
New Pentagon weapons tester pledges to eschew defense contractor jobs after departure

“I share your commitment to maintaining the public’s trust in the Department of Defense,” Douglas Schmidt, the new director of operational test and evaluation, said in the letter to Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

Pentagon emphasizes ‘continuity’ in $849.8B FY25 budget request, amid political deadlock

Pentagon emphasizes ‘continuity’ in $849.8B FY25 budget request, amid political deadlock
Pentagon emphasizes ‘continuity’ in $849.8B FY25 budget request, amid political deadlock

“We kind of depend on having [that] ‘24 bill finish and finish in a way that looks a lot like what we asked for. Otherwise, we’re going to have to go back to the drawing board on a couple of fronts,” said a senior defense official.

Pentagon’s budget process needs ‘fundamental restructuring,’ panel says

Pentagon’s budget process needs ‘fundamental restructuring,’ panel says
Pentagon’s budget process needs ‘fundamental restructuring,’ panel says

The almost 400-page PPBE report draws on two years of research and more than 400 interviews, and resulted in 28 recommendations, half of which are denoted as key changes.

Congress renews stopgap funding, averting partial shutdown

Congress renews stopgap funding, averting partial shutdown
Congress renews stopgap funding, averting partial shutdown

Despite reaching an agreement on spending toplines in January, House and Senate lawmakers still have not approved a fiscal year 2024 budget.

With a year-long CR a real possibility, the service under secretaries sound the alarm

With a year-long CR a real possibility, the service under secretaries sound the alarm
With a year-long CR a real possibility, the service under secretaries sound the alarm

One of the under secretaries compared the damage of a year-long continuing resolution to the effects of sequestration in 2013.

Army will have to cancel exercises with NATO, inside CENTCOM, with no budget supplemental

Army will have to cancel exercises with NATO, inside CENTCOM, with no budget supplemental
Army will have to cancel exercises with NATO, inside CENTCOM, with no budget supplemental

“We don’t have a lot of cash under the sofa cushions and if we don’t get a budget, and we don’t get a supplemental, we’re going to probably have to cancel some things,” Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said today.

Sentinel ICBM incurs ‘critical’ cost breach, at risk of cancellation without SECDEF certification

Sentinel ICBM incurs ‘critical’ cost breach, at risk of cancellation without SECDEF certification
Sentinel ICBM incurs ‘critical’ cost breach, at risk of cancellation without SECDEF certification

The Minuteman III replacement’s costs ballooned by 37 percent and will take about two years longer than expected as officials reportedly discover hidden complications of silo construction.

Snow days: Lawmakers pass short-term funding extension as they wrangle over budget deal

Snow days: Lawmakers pass short-term funding extension as they wrangle over budget deal
Snow days: Lawmakers pass short-term funding extension as they wrangle over budget deal

Though lawmakers avoided a partial government shutdown set to start Saturday, the extension of the current continuing resolution is sure to frustrate agencies like the Pentagon whose spending is locked at fiscal year 2023 levels.

Insights on the Defense Sector

Insights on the Defense Sector
Insights on the Defense Sector

See our new eBook with a selection of thought-provoking opinion pieces from some of the best voices in defense.