Wednesday, December 3, 2025
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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.
Pentagon Comptroller Mike McCord, who will be leaving the Defense Department when President-elect Trump is sworn-in in January, said today he believes Congress will increase the fiscal year 2025 defense budget and noted that the Biden administration, had it remained in power, was preparing to seek topline growth in FY-26.
The Defense Department has failed to achieve a "clean" financial audit for the seventh consecutive year, though outgoing Comptroller Mike McCord highlighted progress that has been made in accounting for the funds of all the military services.
Pentagon acquisition chief Bill LaPlante said the U.S. defense industrial base and that of its allies needs more money to produce weapons at much higher rates if it wants to compete with China and Russia and exit a "vicious circle" of cost cutting and reduced capacity.
The Defense Department has released new information about the classified Replicator drone program, naming systems and companies fielding weapons in the latest tranche of units.
President-elect Trump announced today he has selected Fox News host and Army veteran Pete Hegseth to be defense secretary.
President-elect Trump has selected Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) to be his national security adviser, tapping a second member of the House Armed Services Committee to join to his administration.
Senior defense officials are scheduled to speak at several events around Washington this week.
The Defense Department is committed to providing Ukraine with about $6 billion in military assistance before the end of President Biden's term on Jan. 20, when former President Trump, who has criticized U.S. support of Ukraine in its fight against Russia, returns to office.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin released a memo to U.S. troops today committing the Pentagon to a "calm, orderly and professional transition" to the incoming Trump administration.
The 2024 election, which saw the return to power of former President Trump, has shifted the GOP into the Senate majority, while control of the House remains up for grabs.
The Defense Department says the military intelligence program appropriated by Congress was $29.8 billion in fiscal year 2024, a slight increase over the $29.3 billion DOD sought.
The Defense Department has announced the transfer of $425 million in U.S. weapons to Ukraine, including air defense interceptors, rocket and artillery munitions, armored vehicles and anti-tank systems.
Washington think tanks are slated to host several events focused on national security this week. Tuesday is Election Day.
The INSIDER starts with news from the Air Force chief staff lamenting the ongoing continuing resolution and also includes news about companies teaming up on the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, the Navy secretary extending the service lives of 12 destroyers and more.
The Defense Department has released an implementation plan for its first-ever National Defense Industrial Strategy detailing planned investments in Army munitions, Navy submarines, and other key areas.
Senior defense officials are scheduled to speak at several public events this week.
President Biden signed a first-of-its-kind national security memorandum today directing new U.S. efforts to harness the power of artificial intelligence and streamline its procurement to maintain a competitive advantage over China.
The Pentagon has entered a new agreement with the German military meant to bolster defense industrial supply chains, an increasingly urgent priority for both nations since the start of the war in Ukraine.
The Defense Department inspector general's office has found the Pentagon has not adequately documented more than $1 billion in U.S. military assistance to Ukraine, raising concerns that the funds may not have been used as intended.
The Pentagon inspector general announced a new audit today to determine whether the Defense Department's "enhanced end-use monitoring" of U.S. weapons being provided to Israel has been effective.