Snow days: Lawmakers pass short-term funding extension as they wrangle over budget deal

Snow days: Lawmakers pass short-term funding extension as they wrangle over budget deal
Snow days: Lawmakers pass short-term funding extension as they wrangle over budget deal

Though lawmakers avoided a partial government shutdown set to start Saturday, the extension of the current continuing resolution is sure to frustrate agencies like the Pentagon whose spending is locked at fiscal year 2023 levels.

‘Important step’: US, China resume military-to-military policy talks after comms freeze

‘Important step’: US, China resume military-to-military policy talks after comms freeze
‘Important step’: US, China resume military-to-military policy talks after comms freeze

For months Beijing boycotted military discussions, raising fears at the Pentagon that a miscommunication could lead to conflict.

US Space Command declares ‘full operational capability’

US Space Command declares ‘full operational capability’
US Space Command declares ‘full operational capability’

The declaration comes as Congress put a hold on any spending in fiscal year 2024 on a new SPACECOM headquarters building in Colorado Spring, Colo., pending a DoD IQ investigation into President Joe Biden’s decision to keep the HQ there.

House passes NDAA, ducking culture wars, sending bill to White House

House passes NDAA, ducking culture wars, sending bill to White House
House passes NDAA, ducking culture wars, sending bill to White House

The $886 billion policy bill will go to President Joe Biden’s desk for final signature, but final passage of the annual spending bills remains unclear.

Still ways to go before mil-to-mil talks with China restart: NSC official

Still ways to go before mil-to-mil talks with China restart: NSC official
Still ways to go before mil-to-mil talks with China restart: NSC official

“Right now, of course, the secretary of defense does not have a counterpart; there is no [Chinese] minister of defense. We’re going to have to probably wait on that one,” NSC official Sarah Beran said.

As Albanese visits Biden, Navy tells lawmakers 4 AUKUS legislative proposals are ‘critical’

As Albanese visits Biden, Navy tells lawmakers 4 AUKUS legislative proposals are ‘critical’
As Albanese visits Biden, Navy tells lawmakers 4 AUKUS legislative proposals are ‘critical’

President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will only hold general discussions about AUKUS today, administration officials told reporters.

Biden to send ‘urgent’ budget request for Ukraine, Israel aid to Congress

Biden to send ‘urgent’ budget request for Ukraine, Israel aid to Congress
Biden to send ‘urgent’ budget request for Ukraine, Israel aid to Congress

In an Oval Office address, the president said the money, reportedly over $100 billion, is “going to pay dividends for American security for generations.”

SPACECOM basing in limbo as heated HASC hearing resolves nothing

SPACECOM basing in limbo as heated HASC hearing resolves nothing
SPACECOM basing in limbo as heated HASC hearing resolves nothing

Amid the political clash and a lawmaker’s call for yet another investigation, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall revealed that he and SPACECOM leader Gen. Jim Dickinson also disagreed over where the new HQ should be.

Biden says Camp David trilateral will usher in ‘new era’ between US-ROK-Japan

Biden says Camp David trilateral will usher in ‘new era’ between US-ROK-Japan
Biden says Camp David trilateral will usher in ‘new era’ between US-ROK-Japan

Advancements in joint military exercises as well as efforts to counter missile threats from North Korea came out of the Camp David meetings.

US-Japan-ROK to make ‘pledge’ to consult each other in security crises

US-Japan-ROK to make ‘pledge’ to consult each other in security crises
US-Japan-ROK to make ‘pledge’ to consult each other in security crises

The three countries will also invest in a new hotline to make communication between governments faster and easier.

Space on agenda for Biden’s trilateral summit with S. Korea, Japan

Space on agenda for Biden’s trilateral summit with S. Korea, Japan
Space on agenda for Biden’s trilateral summit with S. Korea, Japan

The Defense Department in particular has been keen to build up military space ties with its allies and partners in Asia in the face of China’s rapid buildup of its own space capabilities, including the development of technologies that could hold US and allied space assets at risk in a regional conflict.

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.

Ex-NSA, CIA official Harry Coker in line to be next National Cyber Director: White House

Ex-NSA, CIA official Harry Coker in line to be next National Cyber Director: White House
Ex-NSA, CIA official Harry Coker in line to be next National Cyber Director: White House

If confirmed, Coker will fill a critical role left open months after the departure of Chris Inglis, who was appointed as the first-ever national cyber director in 2021. 

Turkey won’t clear Sweden’s way into NATO for 3 months, Erdogan says

Turkey won’t clear Sweden’s way into NATO for 3 months, Erdogan says
Turkey won’t clear Sweden’s way into NATO for 3 months, Erdogan says

Though the delay does not fundamentally threaten Sweden’s membership, it could raise concerns among NATO partners that Turkey will use it as a bargaining chip to elicit new political or military concessions.