Lawmakers no longer expect to file a compromise version of the fiscal year 2023 defense authorization bill today, according to lawmakers and staffers.
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
Key Issues SAR on SM-6 SAR on MPF SAR on F-15EX
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.
Lawmakers no longer expect to file a compromise version of the fiscal year 2023 defense authorization bill today, according to lawmakers and staffers.
The State Department has notified Congress that it has approved a $380 million sale to Finland of Stinger missiles that have proved especially critical in Ukraine's defense against an ongoing Russian invasion.
The Senate voted 92-3 on Wednesday to confirm Robert Storch as Defense Department inspector general, making him the first Senate-confirmed official at that post since January 2016.
House and Senate lawmakers have finished their annual defense authorization bill, agreeing to a topline that would support roughly $858 billion in total defense spending -- which is covered by multiple bills -- for fiscal year 2023, around $45 billion more than the White House has requested, according to congressional sources.
The Pentagon, in a new report, says it believes China will have 1,500 nuclear warheads by 2035, continuing a surge previously categorized as a "strategic breakout" by a top U.S. military commander.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is telling Congress that the ongoing fiscal gridlock on Capitol Hill risks, among many other things, the planned modernization of all three legs of the U.S. nuclear triad "when we have no schedule margin left to give."
Senior defense officials are scheduled to speak at several events this week.
The Defense Department today announced a $400 million tranche of military aid to Ukraine, including additional ammunition for recently delivered National Advanced Surface-to-Air-Missile Systems to help defend against Russian missile barrages and unmanned drones.
Few events are scheduled this week leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday.
Pentagon acquisition chief Bill LaPlante chaired a meeting in Brussels today with dozens of armaments chiefs from around the world looking to boost the production of critical weapon systems being used in Ukraine against the Russian military.
The White House's new emergency supplemental budget request to continue aiding Ukraine in its fight against Russia contains nearly $22 billion for the Defense Department, according to an Office of Management and Budget document that breaks down some of the proposed spending.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA) said today he believes the United States needs to surge missile production and other military systems to continue aiding Ukraine against an ongoing Russian invasion.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA) said today that lawmakers are planning to pass the fiscal year 2023 defense authorization bill in the first week of December.
Pentagon Comptroller Mike McCord said he is "disappointed" that the Defense Department's rate of progress has slowed when it comes to achieving a clean financial audit, announcing Tuesday that DOD has, as expected, failed for the fifth consecutive year.
The White House is calling on Congress to approve a $37.7 billion emergency supplemental funding request for Ukraine, which would include nearly $22 billion for the Defense Department to provide continued military aid and replenish U.S. weapon systems that have been transferred to Ukraine.
Senior defense officials are scheduled to speak at several public events this week. Congress will return from the midterm election recess.
The Pentagon has announced a $400 million weapons package for Ukraine including -- for the first time -- four Avenger air defense systems to protect against attacks from Russian unmanned drones and helicopters.
Top Pentagon officials today met with executives from the largest defense companies to discuss issues and challenges related to the defense industrial base.
Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks is scheduled to meet with the Pentagon's top eight defense contractors tomorrow to discuss industrial base issues including the surging demand for U.S. weapons in Ukraine, supply chain bottlenecks and labor challenges.
Midterm elections will be held this week. Meanwhile, senior defense officials are slated to speak at several events.