The Defense Department has begun paying U.S. troops today, despite an ongoing government shutdown, tapping $8 billion in research and development funds.
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Tony Bertuca is chief editor of Inside the Pentagon, the flagship publication of InsideDefense, where he focuses on defense budget and acquisition policy. He previously worked for the Sun-Times News Group in his hometown of Chicago, IL, and at the New Hampshire Union Leader in Manchester, NH. Tony has also served as managing editor of Inside the Army. He has a master's degree in journalism from Boston University.
The Defense Department has begun paying U.S. troops today, despite an ongoing government shutdown, tapping $8 billion in research and development funds.
Dozens of news outlets, including Inside Defense, are rejecting a new Pentagon policy they say bars journalists from seeking or obtaining information not explicitly provided by the Defense Department, resulting in the revocation of press access.
The Association of the United States Army hosts its annual convention in Washington this week.
Despite the ongoing federal shutdown, the Senate voted 77-20 tonight to pass the annual defense authorization bill, teeing the legislation up to be conferenced with the House.
Congress, unable to reach a compromise on spending, triggered a federal shutdown and a massive furlough of government employees last night.
The Defense Department's "highest priorities" in the event of a government shutdown this week are operations to secure the U.S. southern border, Middle East operations, Golden Dome for America, depot maintenance, shipbuilding and critical munitions, according to a new Pentagon document.
Congress returns this week to address a possible government shutdown scheduled for Wednesday.
The White House Office of Management and Budget has sent the Defense Department and other federal agencies guidance for a possible government shutdown on Oct. 1, threatening the mass layoff of federal employees.
The Air and Space Forces Association holds its annual Air, Space & Cyber Conference this week. Congress is out.
The Senate has voted 48-44 to reject the stopgap continuing resolution passed by the House earlier today that would fund the federal government through Nov. 21, setting the stage for a possible government shutdown at the end of the month.
The House voted 217-212 to pass the GOP's stopgap continuing resolution that aims to fund the federal government through Nov. 21 and avoid a shutdown at the end of this month. The measure, however, is likely to be rejected by the Senate later today.
The E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning aircraft and Virginia-class submarine would benefit from special exemptions under the new continuing resolution being proposed by senior Republicans attempting to avert an Oct. 1 government shutdown.
The Senate is slated to take up its version of the annual defense authorization bill this week.
Gen. Christopher Mahoney, who has been nominated to serve as the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told lawmakers today he is fully behind the multiple lines of effort now being pursued to reform the Pentagon's bureaucratic acquisition and budgeting process.
The House voted 213 to 196 to pass its version of the annual defense authorization bill that will need to be reconciled with the Senate.
The Trump administration is seeking billions to begin building an additional Columbia-class submarine in the likely event Congress is forced to pass a stopgap continuing resolution to avert a government shutdown on Oct. 1, according to a list of "anomalies" sent to Capitol Hill.
The Defense Department today announced the final Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement rule for implementing the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Program.
The House Rules Committee voted 9-4 to advance the annual defense authorization bill, approving around 300 amendments for debate, with floor consideration slated for later today.
A key nomination hearing is scheduled for this week, while the House and Senate debate passage of their annual defense authorization bills.
President Trump today signed an executive order authorizing the use of "Department of War" as a secondary title for the Defense Department.