House narrowly passes defense policy bill 219-210, setting up clashes with Senate Dems

House narrowly passes defense policy bill 219-210, setting up clashes with Senate Dems
House narrowly passes defense policy bill 219-210, setting up clashes with Senate Dems

Conservative lawmakers successfully added numerous riders into the final legislation on Thursday and Friday, sinking most Democratic support.

Nukes, helos and amphibs: House authorizers pass their $874B policy bill 58-1

Nukes, helos and amphibs: House authorizers pass their $874B policy bill 58-1
Nukes, helos and amphibs: House authorizers pass their $874B policy bill 58-1

With a GOP-controlled House and a Democrat-controlled Senate, nothing in the bill is final until the last minute conference negotiations are completed, but here are the key issues to watch.

Lawmakers rev up support for Marine Corps’ Force Design 2030 in letter to appropriators

Lawmakers rev up support for Marine Corps’ Force Design 2030 in letter to appropriators
Lawmakers rev up support for Marine Corps’ Force Design 2030 in letter to appropriators

The full-throated support by Armed Services Committee lawmakers could foreshadow Force Design 2030’s future when its biggest proponent leaves the Marine Corps.

Congress lags in setting up its own ‘future navy’ panel

Congress lags in setting up its own ‘future navy’ panel
Congress lags in setting up its own ‘future navy’ panel

The commission was supposed to be up and running by March, but that deadline came and went. Only three of eight members have been announced.

NDAA coming Monday, Smith pledges it will pass

NDAA coming Monday, Smith pledges it will pass
NDAA coming Monday, Smith pledges it will pass

The House and Senate are both expected to vote on the final bill next week.

The last thing the Navy needs is another congressional panel

The last thing the Navy needs is another congressional panel
The last thing the Navy needs is another congressional panel

Responding to sharp criticism of his former service — in print in a Breaking Defense op-ed and implied in new legislation — retired Adm. James Foggo says the Navy needs support, not more onerous oversight.

Lawmakers push for directed energy weapons, suggest collaboration with Israel

Lawmakers push for directed energy weapons, suggest collaboration with Israel
Lawmakers push for directed energy weapons, suggest collaboration with Israel

HASC “believes that directed energy technology has matured to the point where it may be successfully deployed against current rocket, artillery, mortar, and cruise missile threats,” read one NDAA amendment.

HASC chairman’s NDAA mark focuses on munitions, R&D

HASC chairman’s NDAA mark focuses on munitions, R&D
HASC chairman’s NDAA mark focuses on munitions, R&D

Staffers briefing reporters ahead of the release emphasized a focus on the health of the munitions industrial base.

‘Not making ****ing widgets here’: Smith defends acquisition process

‘Not making ****ing widgets here’: Smith defends acquisition process
‘Not making ****ing widgets here’: Smith defends acquisition process

The House Armed Services Committee chairman acknowledged past missteps and showed skepticism for huge investment in NGAD fighter.

Lawmakers push Army on autonomous Stryker, worry over weapon stockpiles

Lawmakers push Army on autonomous Stryker, worry over weapon stockpiles
Lawmakers push Army on autonomous Stryker, worry over weapon stockpiles

From Javelins to high-altitude ISR, the HASC tactical air and land subcommittee offers a view into lawmaker’s tactical concerns.

With hypersonic worries, lawmakers request reports on US missile defense

With hypersonic worries, lawmakers request reports on US missile defense
With hypersonic worries, lawmakers request reports on US missile defense

The draft legislation also requires DoD to submit an overarching strategy for defeating hypersonic missile threats using asymmetric capabilities, including directed energy, microwave systems, cyber and “any other capabilities.”

Well-known names to help guide Congress on nuclear issues

Well-known names to help guide Congress on nuclear issues
Well-known names to help guide Congress on nuclear issues

The commission is due to provide recommendations to lawmakers by the end 2022.

House Passes NDAA, With $24B In Extra Pentagon Funding and Strings Attached

House Passes NDAA, With $24B In Extra Pentagon Funding and Strings Attached
House Passes NDAA, With $24B In Extra Pentagon Funding and Strings Attached

The NDAA easily passed and now heads to the Senate.

The US Navy’s Nuclear Proliferation Problem

The US Navy’s Nuclear Proliferation Problem
The US Navy’s Nuclear Proliferation Problem

US Navy reactors currently use about 100 nuclear bombs’ worth of HEU each year, more than all of the world’s other reactors combined.