Wednesday, January 15, 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.
Pentagon technology chief Heidi Shyu has sent Congress an $81.5 million unfunded priorities list for fiscal year 2025, keying two programs that would provide additional capabilities to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, according to a document obtained by Inside Defense.
The Defense Department is asking Congress to modify the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative to allow for an additional two years of funding flexibility, according to a new legislative proposal.
Two major military service associations host annual conferences this week, while senior defense officials are scheduled to speak at several events around Washington.
The House voted 286-134 to pass a massive $1.2 trillion, six-bill appropriations package that includes about $824 billion for the Defense Department.
President Biden intends to nominate Michael Sulmeyer to be the assistant secretary of defense for cyber policy, according to a White House announcement.
The chief of U.S. Central Command has sent Congress a $450 million fiscal year 2025 unfunded priorities list, keying the need for counter-drone capabilities, but also reminding lawmakers that he still needs $2.4 billion that is included in a supplemental spending bill that has stalled in the House, according to a document obtained by Inside Defense.
The Senate Armed Services Committee today voted 14-10 to advance the nomination of Melissa Dalton to be Air Force under secretary.
After months of partisan haggling, Congress has released a final fiscal year 2024 appropriations package that would provide $320 billion for defense modernization, funds some aid to Ukraine, backs multiyear buys for several critical munitions and injects nearly $1 billion into the Defense Innovation Unit, according to documents released by lawmakers.
Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks said today that she is comfortable being the senior-most visible Pentagon official charged with bringing the department's new Replicator program across the finish line, even if it means her own reputation is at stake.
U.S. Southern Command has sent Congress a list identifying $322 million in unfunded priorities for fiscal year 2025, according to a document obtained by Inside Defense.
Inside Defense is obtaining the fiscal year 2025 unfunded priorities lists that the U.S. military is required by law to send Congress.
U.S. Northern Command and U.S. North American Aerospace and Defense Command have sent Congress an unfunded priorities list for fiscal year 2025 totaling less than $35 million for "foundational IT," according to a document obtained by Inside Defense.
U.S. Indo-Pacific Command has sent Congress a list that identifies $11 billion in "unfunded priorities," including a range of weapon systems, munitions, sensors and military construction projects, according to a document obtained by Inside Defense.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute has released a "National Security Innovation Base Report Card” that, citing ongoing congressional dysfunction, has given the U.S. government the grade of an “F-” for failing to provide the Defense Department and private sector with the predictability of timely and stable funding.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI) said today that he would be open to possibly breaking the budget caps set by a two-year spending deal if House Republicans fail to pass a supplemental spending package to aid Ukraine and replenish U.S. weapons that have been transferred there.
Senior defense officials are scheduled to speak at several congressional committee hearings this week. Meanwhile, Congress has until midnight Friday to avert a partial government shutdown.
The Pentagon's secretive Strategic Capabilities Office wants to spend about $1 billion managing 20 classified prototyping programs focused on developing new weapons technology to aid U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in its mission to counter China's increasingly modernized military, according to recently released budget documents.
The Defense Department, tapping savings from several Army contracts covering ammunition and the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, is preparing to make a $300 million weapons transfer to Ukraine even as Congress remains stalled over a proposed supplemental appropriation needed to replenish U.S. stocks.
Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks said today that the Pentagon's plan for fiscal year 2025 has found a "smart, responsible" way to absorb billions in cuts stemming from a two-year congressional deal but stressed that growth will be needed in the coming years to counter Chinese military modernization.
The Pentagon, which had to absorb a $10 billion cut to its previously projected topline thanks to a two-year congressional budget deal, is cutting its requested modernization investment for fiscal year 2025 -- which includes its procurement and research and development accounts -- by $4.3 billion below what it sought in FY-24.