Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Key Issues Fixed-price contracts STARCOM GBSD test fire
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 House Armed Services Committee’s version of the fiscal year 2022 defense authorization bill sets a topline budget of $715 billion for the Pentagon, aligning with the amount requested by President Biden in April, but $25 billion less than what Senate authorizers have approved.
Inside Defense has obtained a copy of the House Armed Services Committee’s chairman’s mark for the fiscal year 2022 defense authorization bill.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued a memo today directing all military service secretaries to immediately begin full vaccinations of all U.S. troops against COVID-19.
The Defense Department, following the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul, has halted all plans to spend $3.3 billion to bolster the now collapsed Afghan military, along with about another $3 billion in previously unspent training and equipping funds.
Huntington Ingalls Industries announced today former Navy spokesman Danny Hernandez will be the company’s new corporate director of public affairs.
The Pentagon said today it will soon mandate vaccinations for all U.S. troops following the Food and Drug Administration’s new approval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine.
Senior defense officials are scheduled to publicly discuss a variety of national security issues this week.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley said today the Pentagon is committed to the ongoing evacuation of U.S. personnel and allies from Afghanistan.
The Pentagon, according to its spring budget request, anticipated spending $3.3 billion in fiscal year 2022 to bolster the Afghan military, but that force has since surrendered in the face of a swift and stunning onslaught by Taliban militants who recently seized control of the capital city of Kabul.
President Biden today defended his decision to withdraw the U.S. military from Afghanistan, despite the Taliban's swift takeover of most of the country, including the capital of Kabul, and the stunning images of an unfolding humanitarian crisis.
Senior defense officials are scheduled to speak at several events this week.
The Pentagon will temporarily deploy 3,000 additional troops to Afghanistan, with some standing by in Kuwait, to help evacuate the U.S. embassy in Kabul.
The Senate voted 69-30 to pass a $1 trillion infrastructure bill, though a Republican push to include $50 billion in new defense-related spending was unsuccessful.
The Senate yesterday confirmed two senior Pentagon nominees.
Senate Democrats have put forth a non-binding, $3.5 trillion budget resolution that shows nominal increases to defense spending over the next 10 years, falling well short of the growth sought by most Republicans.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA) has sent a letter to President Biden urging him to consider using the Pentagon's upcoming Nuclear Posture Review to cut some weapons programs.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said today he will seek approval from President Biden to make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory at the Defense Department no later than mid-September.
The annual Space and Missile Defense Symposium will be held this week in Huntsville, AL, featuring several senior Pentagon officials.
Senate Republicans have offered an amendment to the bipartisan infrastructure deal that would add $50 billion in new defense spending, mostly for shipyards, military depots, ranges and testing facilities.
Hondo Geurts, the acting under secretary of the Navy and former Navy chief acquisition executive, is retiring from government service, according to a letter he has distributed.