Industry chaos, congressional clampdowns and secret CCA contracts: 2025 review
I didn't include Taylor Swift song recommendations this time, but if you're asking me my favorite tune off "The Life of A Showgirl," it's "Ruin the Friendship."
10 Breaking Defense op-eds that defined 2025
It's been a whirlwind of a year — and the defense establishment has plenty of thoughts on how it's unfolded and what might come next.
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Next-generation C2 won’t be next-gen without the network transport
The network transport architecture for NGC2 could be a hybrid approach that combines high assurance communications with 5G, WiFi, and multi-orbit satellites.
Senate confirms Coast Guard’s new top admiral, other key DoD officials
Senators confirmed a new Pentagon comptroller and director of operational test and evaluation, among others.
GOP Rep. Don Bacon criticizes Hegseth, new National Security Strategy
The strategy runs counter to voters' support of NATO and Europe, the retired Air Force brigadier general argues on this episode of The Congressional Roundup.
DoD to industry: Start planning now for 2027 deadline banning Chinese parts
“If you start to ask for a waiver starting ‘27 that's going to be a painful process for everyone. We'd rather you go ahead and start early,” said Michael Cadenazzi, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy.
Senate passes $901B defense authorization bill with major acquisition reform push
The bill forces the Pentagon to adopt a "portfolio acquisition executive model" for managing programs and makes it easier for commercial firms to do business with the department.
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Keeping sensitive information safe in a new AI era
Why edge and endpoint security can’t be an afterthought.
INDOPAC’s Rudd said to be Trump’s pick for US Cyber Command chief
Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd’s nomination comes after the dual-hatted position has been empty for nearly eight months following the abrupt firing of Gen. Timothy Haugh.
Trump taps Lamontagne as next Air Force No. 2
Air Mobility Command chief Gen. John Lamontagne — one of several new military nominees submitted by the White House on Monday — would fill a role left vacant since the firing of Gen. James Slife in February.
To field weapons quicker, Pentagon should improve testing and evaluation process: GAO
The office outlines 13 recommendations for the DoD and services that primarily revolve around revising weapon systems' test and evaluation policies to reflect “leading practices” for product development.
Rep. Adam Smith criticizes National Security Strategy, Golden Dome uncertainty
The House Armed Services Committee's top Democrat says the NSS is an "unprincipled" plan with an outdated view of the world.
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Turning R&D into reality to meet the challenges of the modern battlefield
Knowing when to build on commercial systems and when to develop something new can be the difference between parity and information dominance.
House passes defense policy bill
The National Defense Authorization Act authorizes $900.6 billion in defense funds, or about $8 billion more than the White House’s request.
Key lawmaker blasts Pentagon’s last-minute push for multiyear munitions package for FY26
The timing of the multi-billion-dollar request "reflects a lack of seriousness about the role of Congress in oversight and in funding,” Sen. Chris Coons told reporters.
Congress tackles the 2026 NDAA as the Pentagon pivots west
With the Reagan National Defense Forum in the rearview mirror, lawmakers are zeroing in on a $901 billion National Defense Authorization Act.
Compromise NDAA protects Wedgetail, greenlights Black Hawk multiyear buys
Among other provisions in the FY26 NDAA, congressional authorizers would direct the defense secretary to explore possibilities for recapitalizing the military services’ executive airlift fleets.