Thursday, December 5, 2024
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.
A private meeting hosted last month by two right-leaning Washington think tanks has identified areas where the Pentagon could save billions of dollars annually, including military health care reform and base closures, but also found that cuts to other "politically controversial programs" -- often focused on by some Republicans who deride them as "woke" -- would save far less.
The State Department has approved Poland for a possible $150 million foreign military sale of 800 Hellfire missiles, according to a Defense Security Cooperation Agency notice.
The State Department has approved Australia for a possible $895 million foreign military sale of Tomahawk missiles, according to a Defense Security Cooperation Agency notice.
The Defense Department is finalizing a proposal for how to spend more than $1 billion lawmakers appropriated for fiscal year 2023 for "revised economic assumptions" related to specific contracts beset by historic inflation, according to Pentagon Comptroller Mike McCord.
The Defense Department is establishing a Joint Production Accelerator Cell to help identify "optimal production strategies" and mitigate challenges facing the U.S. industrial base, according to a new memo from Pentagon acquisition chief Bill LaPlante.
Pentagon acquisition chief Bill LaPlante said today he believes the increased U.S. investment in munitions, especially those meant to aid Ukraine and Taiwan, must continue for at least four or five more years.
The Defense Department is requesting $29.3 billion for its classified Military Intelligence Program in fiscal year 2024.
The United States, the U.K. and Australia have announced a three-phased plan for Australia to obtain U.S. nuclear-powered submarines by the early 2030s, followed by "SSN-AUKUS" in the early 2040s.
Senior Pentagon officials said today the fiscal year 2024 budget request represents less than 1% real growth above what Congress enacted for FY-23 but asserted that the topline is sufficient to implement a National Defense Strategy focused on deterring China.
The Pentagon is requesting $170 billion for procurement in fiscal year 2024, with $30.6 billion slated for missiles and munitions, focusing on weapon systems with industrial base shortfalls highlighted by the ongoing war in Ukraine and also on those that could deter China from acting militarily against Taiwan.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute has released a "National Security Innovation Base Report Card," giving the Pentagon poor grades when it comes to providing "clarity" to defense contractors and for failing to expand its pipeline for technological talent.
Congressional Republicans were united today in their criticism of President Biden's defense budget request, with some saying it is too small when compared to the rate of inflation and the planned surge in non-defense spending sought by the White House.
The White House has submitted a fiscal year 2024 budget to Congress requesting $886.4 billion in total national defense spending, with $842 billion specifically for the Defense Department, or an increase of slightly more than 3% above what lawmakers enacted for FY-23, according to the Office of Management and Budget.
Leaked budget numbers indicate the White House intends to send a fiscal year 2024 request to Congress that would increase the Pentagon's modernization investments by about 4% above what lawmakers enacted for FY-23, but some analysts say that represents flat growth, or even a small cut when adjusted for inflation.
The Defense Department's recently established Office of Strategic Capital intends to sign a memorandum of agreement with the Small Business Administration's Office of Investment and Innovation to help increase early-stage private investment in critical technologies, according to a Pentagon announcement.
The State Department has notified Congress of a possible $1.4 billion foreign military sale to Japan of E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft, according to a Defense Security Cooperation Agency notice.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) today unsuccessfully tried to get the chief of U.S. Special Operations Command to pledge that he would not send Congress an unfunded priorities list following the White House's regular budget request.
The fiscal year 2024 defense budget request is scheduled to be released this week. Meanwhile, senior defense officials are slated to speak at several public events and testify on Capitol Hill.
The Defense Department today announced a new $400 million military aid package for Ukraine that will immediately transfer weapons from U.S. stocks.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin today released a "message to the force," again centering China as the Pentagon's "pacing challenge," and pledging continued security assistance for Ukraine and Taiwan.