Tuesday, October 23, 2018
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.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) said today he and Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-OK) have sent a letter to the Pentagon opposing plans to reduce defense contractor progress payments, arguing that doing so is "inconsistent" with congressional intent. (UPDATED)
The nominee to lead U.S. forces on the Korean Peninsula said today temporarily suspending joint military exercises with South Korea is a “prudent risk” as diplomats work toward a peace agreement with North Korea. But he acknowledged lawmakers' concerns that readiness has been degraded and will continue to erode over time if the exercises remain paused.
The Pentagon is unable to reliably demonstrate it has followed the law and enacted billions in overhead cost cuts sought by Congress to be reinvested into warfighting and weapon systems, according to a new Government Accountability Office report.
The House returns to session this week eyeing a vote on a $675 billion defense appropriations bill that has already cleared the Senate and must be signed into law by Oct. 1 to prevent a partial government shutdown.
The House returns in session this week to consider the fiscal year 2019 defense spending “minibus” and senior Pentagon officials are scheduled to speak at congressional hearings and conferences around the Washington area.
President Trump today signed a fiscal year 2019 “minibus” spending package to fund military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, energy and water development and the legislative branch.
A prominent defense budget analyst said today the Air Force’s $13 billion cost estimate for a new Space Force is not “conservative” as Secretary Heather Wilson has suggested, and even went as far as to label the service’s guesswork as “malicious compliance” that could stoke opposition on Capitol Hill.
NATIONAL HARBOR, MD -- The Pentagon has about 10 weeks to make budget choices for fiscal year 2020 that will likely impact military modernization for the next 50 years, according to Deputy Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan.
President Trump said today the United States is "very seriously" considering establishing a permanent military base in Poland.
A team of House and Senate Democrats have introduced legislation that would block research, development, production and deployment of low-yield nuclear warheads for submarine-launched ballistic missiles on the grounds that such weapons risk entering the United States into a nuclear war.
The Senate voted today 93-7 to pass a final fiscal year 2019 appropriations "minibus" that includes $675 billion for defense.
A long-awaited defense industrial base report slated for release this week has again been delayed, according to the Pentagon.
The Defense Intelligence Agency wants to upgrade its legacy database with a machine-assisted, cloud-based system and seeks to hit initial operational capability within the next three years, preferably two, according to DIA Director Lt. Gen. Robert Ashley.
Senior Pentagon officials will appear at events around the Washington area this week, including the Air Force Association's Air, Space and Cyber Conference. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is traveling to Macedonia.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said today he hopes the United States can iron out its disagreements with Turkey, which stem from Ankara's decision to purchase a Russian-made missile defense system and led the U.S. Congress to block the sale of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters to Turkey.
House and Senate appropriators have agreed to a final $675 billion fiscal year 2019 defense spending measure that includes the purchase of 93 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, 16 more than the Pentagon's request, and three Littoral Combat Ships, two beyond what was requested for FY-19.
House and Senate conferees have agreed on a massive omnibus spending bill that includes $675 billion for defense.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-OK) has named John Bonsell as majority staff director, according to a committee announcement.
The Pentagon since 2011 has been unable to prove that a series of internal efficiency initiatives have saved billions and its latest effort may be headed for a significant disruption.
The Pentagon and White House have delayed the public release of a much-anticipated defense industrial base report amid the approach of Hurricane Florence along the Carolina coast.