As Milley exits, ‘toothaches’ and challenges facing Brown’s first days as Joint Chiefs chair

As Milley exits, ‘toothaches’ and challenges facing Brown’s first days as Joint Chiefs chair
As Milley exits, ‘toothaches’ and challenges facing Brown’s first days as Joint Chiefs chair

“We don’t take an oath to a religion. We don’t take an oath to a king, or queen, or tyrant, or dictator. And we don’t take an oath to a wannabe dictator,” Gen. Mark Milley said today.

Government shutdown: How it could impact the military, civilians and defense industry

Government shutdown: How it could impact the military, civilians and defense industry
Government shutdown: How it could impact the military, civilians and defense industry

Bill LaPlante, the Pentagon’s top weapons buyer, noted that China doesn’t have to deal with this kind of budget chaos. “We can teach them how to do that. That would be helpful,” he said.

Senate confirms Army, Marine Corps chiefs, though Tuberville hold continues

Senate confirms Army, Marine Corps chiefs, though Tuberville hold continues
Senate confirms Army, Marine Corps chiefs, though Tuberville hold continues

Gen. Randy George and Gen. Eric Smith will now formally take over leadership of the Army and Marine Corps, respectively.

DoD space protection strategy: resilience, defense, and offense by another name

DoD space protection strategy: resilience, defense, and offense by another name
DoD space protection strategy: resilience, defense, and offense by another name

The unclassified strategy communicates “our commitment to protect the Joint Force from adversary hostile uses of space,” said DoD Space Policy czar John Plumb.

Pentagon IG to examine how DoD discovered billions more for Ukraine after ‘valuation errors’

Pentagon IG to examine how DoD discovered billions more for Ukraine after ‘valuation errors’
Pentagon IG to examine how DoD discovered billions more for Ukraine after ‘valuation errors’

“The objective of this audit is to determine the extent and impact of the March 2023 estimation change for valuing assets provided under Presidential Drawdown Authority,” the Defense Department Inspector General’s office wrote in a memo.

Top Guard space officer fears readiness loss as Space and Air Force processes diverge

Top Guard space officer fears readiness loss as Space and Air Force processes diverge
Top Guard space officer fears readiness loss as Space and Air Force processes diverge

The Ohio Air National Guard’s 178th Wing on Aug. 10-11 hosted the annual Vulcan Guard space exercise, that this year included personnel from US Space Command, the Brazilian military and all seven National Guard states conducting space operations.

‘Wake up call’: Panel identifies 5 ‘key’ ways Pentagon can reform budget process now

‘Wake up call’: Panel identifies 5 ‘key’ ways Pentagon can reform budget process now
‘Wake up call’: Panel identifies 5 ‘key’ ways Pentagon can reform budget process now

“I think that there’s a demand signal for change given what we’ve seen in Ukraine… and then obviously, everyone has eyes on China,” said commission vice chair Ellen Lord.

Space Command HQ staying in Colorado, as Biden reverses Trump decision

Space Command HQ staying in Colorado, as Biden reverses Trump decision
Space Command HQ staying in Colorado, as Biden reverses Trump decision

“The most significant factor the President considered was the impact a move would have to operational readiness to confront space-enabled threats during a critical time in this dynamic security environment,” a senior administration told Breaking Defense in a statement.

Hill battle over SPACECOM HQ seeps into Pentagon’s annual $4.1B reprogramming request

Hill battle over SPACECOM HQ seeps into Pentagon’s annual $4.1B reprogramming request
Hill battle over SPACECOM HQ seeps into Pentagon’s annual $4.1B reprogramming request

The funds in question essentially are monies that the Defense Department wants to move around from one program to another deemed more urgent — something that happens every year because DoD budget requests happen nearly a year before funds can be spent.

India’s Modi to leave Washington with host of defense, tech agreements in his wake

India’s Modi to leave Washington with host of defense, tech agreements in his wake
India’s Modi to leave Washington with host of defense, tech agreements in his wake

“We intend to support India in the creation of logistics, repair, and maintenance infrastructure for aircraft and ships… that is obviously something that will be important as we work together to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder.

Key House committee passes divisive $886 billion national security spending bill

Key House committee passes divisive $886 billion national security spending bill
Key House committee passes divisive $886 billion national security spending bill

One Republican-backed amendment funds a special inspector general for Ukraine spending, while a Democrat-backed add-on targets “excessive contractor payments.”

With draft bill, Republican appropriators tee up defense spending divide in House

With draft bill, Republican appropriators tee up defense spending divide in House
With draft bill, Republican appropriators tee up defense spending divide in House

When the House Appropriations Committee marks up the FY24 defense spending bill this week, social issues and a roadblock for multi-year munition deals appear to be on the table.

House appropriators’ $826B Pentagon spending bill sets up fights with authorizers

House appropriators’ $826B Pentagon spending bill sets up fights with authorizers
House appropriators’ $826B Pentagon spending bill sets up fights with authorizers

The DoD topline is a 3.6% increase over last year and roughly $285 million more than the White House sought.

As GOP frustration mounts, officials eye ways to get weapons to Taiwan ‘more quickly’

As GOP frustration mounts, officials eye ways to get weapons to Taiwan ‘more quickly’
As GOP frustration mounts, officials eye ways to get weapons to Taiwan ‘more quickly’

“We agree that there is urgency to make sure that Taiwan is prepared as part of deterrence to keep China from moving forward,” said State Department’s Assistant Secretary Bureau of Political-Military Affairs Jessica Lewis.