Republicans have a ticking clock. What can they get done on defense?
Reconciliation, defense appropriations and the NDAA will all fight for attention as Congress considers the impeachment of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Top cover and clear metrics: How to make the new PAE structure work
Two moves, made in the right order, will break portfolios — and eventually the acquisition system as a whole — out of the compliance trap, writes Timothy Cooke in this op-ed.
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Winning the information war through ideas and perception
As social media and AI amplify dis- and misinformation campaigns, effectively countering them requires a coordinated response.
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.
NDAA gives new counter-drone office veto over service programs, official says
“My interpretation of that law is that we won't let a service procure something that doesn't perform and if they want to, JIATF-401 gets to say no,” said Col. Jonathan Beha, chief of requirements for the Joint Inter-Agency Task Force.
Congress eyes $8B boost over Trump’s Pentagon budget in NDAA
Rep. Adam Smith, the House Armed Services Committee's ranking Democrat, said Congress is aiming to release a compromise defense authorization bill in the next 24 hours.
Senate passes $914B defense policy bill after resolving gridlock on amendments
Senators voted 77-20 to approve the National Defense Authorization Act, moving the bill forward on a largely bipartisan basis.
From directed energy to AI and hardening, JIATF-401 is widening counter-UAS options
There is no single answer to the drone threat, pushing the Pentagon toward a broader mix of defenses.
House passes NDAA, with $848B topline and protections for Ukraine aid
Democrats by and large voted against the typically bipartisan measure due to the addition of several culture war amendments.
Can Congress pass a FY26 defense budget this year? Here are 12 key issues for lawmakers.
As Congress returns from August recess, Breaking Defense examined how each defense committee is looking at a dozen major programs, from Golden Dome to F/A-XX to the cancellation of the E-7 Wedgetail.
Could DoD buck ‘congressional intent’ on billions in reconciliation?
Unlike a traditional budget, military funds from the One Big Beautiful Bill come with fewer legal strings attached for how the money is spent, prompting lawmakers to collect public pledges.
Biotech boosters win big in both HASC, SASC defense policy bills for FY26
Both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees voted to streamline Pentagon procurement of biologically-derived materials, from first aid treatments to novel explosives.
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Weaponizing the supply chain for a liquid-fueled howitzer-fired munition that flies 150 km
The goal of such weaponization is to tie warfighter needs to the RDT&E cycle.
Calvert: Growing the defense innovation ecosystem
In this exclusive op-ed, Rep. Ken Calvert, the head of the House Appropriations defense subcommittee, calls for bolstering defense innovation in Congress.
HASC adds funds for Virginia-class subs, Ukraine in FY26 policy bill
Republicans successfully batted down a number of Democratic amendments during the 14-hour markup session.
SASC version of defense policy bill adds $32B to boost F-35, shipbuilding
Shipbuilding and munitions were the major beneficiaries of the $32.1 billion added to the defense topline, with about $8.5 billion added for shipbuilding and about $6 billion added for munitions, according to a senior congressional official.
Senate NDAA to keep acquisition reform provisions boosting nontraditional defense firms: Official
Sen. Roger Wicker aims to fold the FORGED Act into the NDAA, but with some changes meant to ease the concerns of major defense primes.