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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 is voting against a three-month continuing resolution that would keep the government funded at previous-year levels, raise the debt limit and provide hurricane relief funding.
Here are a few must-reads from this week's edition of Inside the Pentagon.
Pentagon Comptroller David Norquist, in his first public appearance since he was confirmed, criticized Congress on Wednesday for moving toward passage of another “corrosive” continuing resolution, which freezes spending at previous-year levels and forbids new-start programs.
President Trump and top Democrats agreed Wednesday to support a three-month deal to raise the federal debt limit.
House Appropriations defense subcommittee Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-TX) said Wednesday the Pentagon "can live with" the three-month continuing resolution Congress is preparing to pass, though she noted the possibility of easing CR spending restrictions to fund immediate defense priorities related to North Korean nuclear threats.
A small cadre of experts is quietly crafting a new National Defense Strategy, according to several sources, who say the debate to return the United States to a two-war posture is well underway.
North Korea launched an intermediate range ballistic missile over northern Japan on Aug. 28 that eventually landed 500 nautical miles to the east in the Pacific Ocean, according to new details released by the Defense Department.
South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo is scheduled to visit Defense Secretary Jim Mattis at the Pentagon this week. Meanwhile, few other events are scheduled for the final week of August, traditionally a slow period for Washington. Congress is scheduled to return Sept. 5.
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Thursday he and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson are "actively reviewing" supplying Ukraine with lethal military aid.
The Pentagon's plan for breaking up its acquisition organization could eliminate several influential positions, including the director of defense pricing and the top developmental testing official, according to a new congressional analysis.
The Defense Department announced the appointments of several senior officials Tuesday.
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis was tight-lipped Tuesday on the number of additional U.S. troops slated to be sent to Afghanistan following President Trump's decision to increase operations there.
President Trump's new plan to increase U.S. operations in Afghanistan was greeted with support from GOP lawmakers, but the total number of additional troops remains vague and could complicate an already stressful budget environment when Congress returns Sept. 5.
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson said he expects the defense industry to play a key role in the fleet review he has ordered in the wake of a collision of the destroyer John S. McCain (DDG-56) with a merchant vessel off the coast of Singapore that has left 10 sailors missing.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) announced today Jen Stewart will assume the role of staff director.
There are no planned events for the week ahead. Congress is out and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is traveling to the Middle East and Europe.
The House's current fiscal year 2018 appropriations legislation would force a $72.4 billion cut to defense spending if it is passed into law in violation of the 2011 Budget Control Act, according to a sequestration update report sent to Congress by the White House Office of Management and Budget.
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is embarking on a trip to the Middle East and Europe on Saturday to “re-affirm the enduring U.S. commitment to strategic partnerships,” according to a statement from the Pentagon.
The White House Office of Management and Budget wants the Defense Department to give “special focus” to missile defense, hypersonic weapons, autonomous and space-based systems as well as other technologies when drawing up research and development investments for fiscal year 2019, according to a recent memo.
Some must-reads from this week's edition of Inside the Pentagon.