Friday, December 1, 2023
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 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.
Midterm elections this week are poised to set off a political game of musical chairs on Capitol Hill that could have significant impacts on defense issues ranging from topline spending to Ukrainian military aid to U.S. shipbuilding.
The Pentagon announced a $400 million military aid package for Ukraine that would deliver capabilities in the coming years, including money for refurbished tanks and tactical drones.
The Defense Department announced today that the budget for its classified military intelligence program was $24.1 billion for fiscal year 2022.
Senior Pentagon officials are scheduled to speak at several Washington think-tank events this week.
The Pentagon, following the release of the National Defense Strategy, has released a Strategic Management Plan covering fiscal years 2022 through 2026 that lays out broad strategic goals and objectives, including shaping the defense industrial base for the 21st century.
The Defense Department announced today that a new $275 million military aid package will be sent to Ukraine, transferring long-range ammunition, humvees, satellite communications gear and other capabilities.
The Defense Department "does not intend to enact a policy to increase contract prices due to inflation,” according to a new letter sent by Pentagon acquisition chief Bill LaPlante to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and obtained by Inside Defense.
The Defense Department today released a new National Defense Strategy, accompanied by the Nuclear Posture Review and Missile Defense Review, that maintains the U.S. military's focus on China as a "pacing challenge," labels Russia as an "acute threat," and has upgraded the importance of defending Guam.
Defense Department technology chief Heidi Shyu said today she will be participating in a special Pentagon meeting this week to determine the fiscal year 2024 budget profile for future experimentation "sprints" intended to rapidly assess new military technology.
Former Defense Secretary Ash Carter died Monday evening in Boston, according to a statement from his family. He was 68.