Sunday, October 19, 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.
The Democrat-led Senate Armed Services Committee has approved a fiscal year 2025 defense authorization bill that would break the cap mandated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act by more than $25 billion, setting the stage for a months-long confrontation with the House’s GOP majority.
The House voted 217-199 to pass the fiscal year 2025 defense authorization bill.
The GOP-led House Appropriations Committee voted to advance its version of the fiscal year 2025 defense spending bill along party lines today, with Democrats standing in opposition to what they said were “poison pill” policy riders that target abortion services, climate change mitigation and diversity initiatives.
The House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to consider a bill tomorrow that would rescind more than $1.2 billion in defense spending, according to a draft report accompanying the bill.
The House Rules Committee voted 9-4 to advance the fiscal year 2025 defense authorization bill, with 350 amendments slated to receive votes on the House floor.
The House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to consider a defense spending bill on Thursday that would cut procurement in fiscal year 2025 by about $1.4 billion below the Pentagon's request but would increase research and development funding by about $2.8 billion, according to a document obtained by Inside Defense.
Inside Defense has obtained a draft copy of the House Appropriations Committee’s report on the fiscal year 2025 defense spending bill.
The White House "strongly supports" the House Armed Services Committee's version of the fiscal year 2025 defense authorization bill but notes opposition to several provisions related to shipbuilding, missile defense, contractor pricing data and other areas, according to a new statement of administration policy released by the Office of Management and Budget.
Three congressional committees will meet to consider fiscal year 2025 defense authorization and appropriations bills this week.
The Defense Department announced a $225 million weapons package for Ukraine today, including air defense interceptors, artillery systems and munitions, armored vehicles and anti-tank weapons.
Pentagon acquisition chief Bill LaPlante is departing for a weeklong trip to Japan to reinforce defense industrial cooperation between Washington and Tokyo.
Kelly Magsamen, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's chief of staff, plans to leave her job at the end of the month, according to a statement from Austin.
The House Appropriations defense subcommittee has voted to advance its version of the fiscal year 2025 defense spending bill to the full committee, which is expected to vote on the measure next week.
The House Appropriations defense subcommittee has released a draft version of the fiscal year 2025 defense spending bill that differs in several ways from their colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee, specifically by forgoing funds for an additional Virginia-class submarine and increasing procurement for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
While NATO may not be planning to deploy combat trainers to Ukraine, a new warfighting analysis center slated to be established in Poland will be a place for the Ukrainians to teach NATO.
U.S. NATO Ambassador Julianne Smith said today the alliance intends to make new defense production announcements at a key summit in July that could give arms manufacturers insight into NATO's defense planning guidance in the hopes the information will serve as a multiyear "demand signal" to spur new investments in munitions capacity.
Senior defense officials are scheduled to speak at several public events this week.
Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-MS) released a proposal today that would shatter the defense spending cap mandated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act by $55 billion, arguing U.S. military spending needs to skyrocket to deter China, Russia and other potential adversaries.
Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA) successfully included an amendment in the House Armed Services Committee's version of the fiscal year 2025 defense authorization bill that would require the Pentagon to provide lawmakers a report outlining its goals to increase oversight of defense company mergers and acquisitions, though he tried to do more.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is scheduled to undergo an "elective and minimally invasive follow-up non-surgical procedure" related to a previous bladder ailment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland later this evening, according to Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.