Will Congress and Navy find room to agree on ships? 2023 Preview

Will Congress and Navy find room to agree on ships? 2023 Preview
Will Congress and Navy find room to agree on ships? 2023 Preview

Will a new year and a new Congress bring us the first view of a new Navy?

‘Our own neighborhood:’ China’s influence is showing up closer to home

‘Our own neighborhood:’ China’s influence is showing up closer to home
‘Our own neighborhood:’ China’s influence is showing up closer to home

Lawmakers’ concerns echoed similar worries brought up earlier this month during a hearing with the heads of US Central Command and US Africa Command.

Army Secretary Pledges 6,200 National Guard In DC By Weekend

Army Secretary Pledges 6,200 National Guard In DC By Weekend
Army Secretary Pledges 6,200 National Guard In DC By Weekend

Despite a heavy-handed military presence at earlier protests, there were no troops in evidence at the Capitol when it was overrun yesterday by pro-Trump rioters. Currently, 834 Guard troops are operational across DC, 741 of them guarding the Capitol and 93 manning traffic checkpoints.

HASC Chair Hits Back At Republicans Over Stalled NDAA

HASC Chair Hits Back At Republicans Over Stalled NDAA
HASC Chair Hits Back At Republicans Over Stalled NDAA

Debate over the Space Force is a major sticking point, but Rep. Adam Smith also blames Republicans for cancelling a series of NDAA meetings.

Thornberry Won’t Run; A ‘Great Loss At A Critical Time’

Thornberry Won’t Run; A ‘Great Loss At A Critical Time’
Thornberry Won’t Run; A ‘Great Loss At A Critical Time’

The Texas Republican, who supported Pentagon reform, bigger budgets, and Trump’s border wall, is joining several other conservatives is walking away from Capitol Hill.

HASC Dems Deny Shanahan Border Wall Money Transfer

HASC Dems Deny Shanahan Border Wall Money Transfer
HASC Dems Deny Shanahan Border Wall Money Transfer

HASC Chairman Adam Smith issued a letter formally denying the request: “DoD is attempting to circumvent Congress and the American people’s opposition to using taxpayer money for the construction of an unnecessary wall, and the military is paying the cost.”

Two LPD Amphibious Ships Cut From 2020 Budget Plan

Two LPD Amphibious Ships Cut From 2020 Budget Plan
Two LPD Amphibious Ships Cut From 2020 Budget Plan

Are big, expensive vessels like amphibious ships and carriers too vulnerable in a long-range missile war with Russia or China?

$750 Billion Or Bust? Trump’s (Latest) Big Defense Budget Bound For Big Fights

$750 Billion Or Bust? Trump’s (Latest) Big Defense Budget Bound For Big Fights
$750 Billion Or Bust? Trump’s (Latest) Big Defense Budget Bound For Big Fights

Few of the experts we spoke to expect the administration to actually see the full $750 billion President Trump will reportedly propose this week. Between Trump himself calling the figure a “negotiating tactic” and the potential for it driving a $1.2 trillion deficit, the odds are awfully long.

Mattis Slams Putin; Says No ‘Smoking Gun’ on Khashoggi Murder

Mattis Slams Putin; Says No ‘Smoking Gun’ on Khashoggi Murder
Mattis Slams Putin; Says No ‘Smoking Gun’ on Khashoggi Murder

REAGAN DEFENSE FORUM: Defense Secretary Jim Mattis accused Russia of trying to influence the 2018 midterm elections and accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of being “duplicitous” in violating international treaties. The secretary’s statements come one day after President Trump chatted on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Argentina with Putin, this after Trump cancelled…

Inhofe Wants 355 Ship Navy, But Headwinds Remain

Inhofe Wants 355 Ship Navy, But Headwinds Remain
Inhofe Wants 355 Ship Navy, But Headwinds Remain

WASHINGTON: President Trump has just issued orders to cut the defense budget, and hasn’t tweeted for a while about his campaign pledge to build a bigger Navy, but the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee wants to get a 355-ship fleet back on the agenda. Jim Inhofe — who’s likely to retain the SASC chairmanship…

US Arms Sales Overseas Skyrocketed 33% in 2018

US Arms Sales Overseas Skyrocketed 33% in 2018
US Arms Sales Overseas Skyrocketed 33% in 2018

The $55.6 billion represents closed deals, many of which had in in the works for years. But the focus of the Trump administration pumping up US arms sales to boost domestic manufacturing jobs has led to officials across the Pentagon and State Department to proclaim pushing American kit is a big part of their international engagements.

Trump’s Industrial Base Report Blames China, Sequestration

Trump’s Industrial Base Report Blames China, Sequestration
Trump’s Industrial Base Report Blames China, Sequestration

Congress and China have emerged as the primary culprits for the weakening the US defense industrial base. Those are the most striking findings of a new White House report that takes a deep-dive into the state of defense manufacturing in the United States, sounding alarm bells over the decline in capability and the rise of China’s industrial might.

Defense Industry Pushes Back Against New Pentagon Rules

Defense Industry Pushes Back Against New Pentagon Rules
Defense Industry Pushes Back Against New Pentagon Rules

WASHINGTON: The Pentagon is looking to get a tighter grip on how it pays large defense contractors, and has drawn up plans to cut up front costs while rewarding companies that hit their milestones on time.   The defense industry, however, isn’t happy about it. Every major defense industry trade association voiced opposition to the…

Kyl Named To SASC; Missile Defense, Nuke Battles Likely On Capitol Hill

Kyl Named To SASC; Missile Defense, Nuke Battles Likely On Capitol Hill
Kyl Named To SASC; Missile Defense, Nuke Battles Likely On Capitol Hill

As Jon Kyl, the new senator who brings a long track record of spending on missile defense and nukes returns to the Hill, Democrats in the House might have other ideas.