Saturday, October 18, 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 Army has sent Congress a list of $4.3 billion in unfunded priorities, keying unmet needs for countering small drones, additional munitions procurement and industrial base investments, according to a memo obtained by Inside Defense.
U.S. Indo-Pacific Command has sent Congress an unfunded priorities list totaling nearly $12 billion, a slight increase above the amount it identified for lawmakers last year, according to documents obtained by Inside Defense.
The Senate Armed Services Committee marks up its version of the fiscal year 2026 defense authorization bill in closed session this week.
The Senate Armed Services Committee will meet in closed session next week to craft its version of the fiscal year 2026 defense authorization bill.
The House voted 218-214 today to pass a massive budget reconciliation bill that includes numerous tax, immigration and energy provisions, including $150 billion for the Defense Department.
The Senate, after a tie-breaking vote cast by Vice President Vance, has passed a massive budget reconciliation policy bill that, among numerous other provisions, includes $150 billion for the Defense Department.
New Pentagon acquisition chief Michael Duffey has issued a memo outlining guidance for implementing the Trump administration's policy requiring justification for awarding many contracts involving information technology consulting and management services, as well as advisory or assistance services.
Senior defense officials are scheduled to speak at public events around Washington this week ahead of the Independence Day holiday. The Republican majority in Congress continues work on their massive reconciliation package -- the "Big, Beautiful Bill" that includes billions for defense.
The Defense Department is requesting $33.6 billion in classified spending for its military intelligence program, a $5.4 billion increase above what DOD sought for FY-25.
The Defense Department will not deliver Congress a topline budget projection for fiscal year 2027 or future years, according to a senior defense official who said today that the Pentagon is planning for a similar $1 trillion topline next year unless President Trump changes his mind.
Senior defense officials today said the Pentagon is canceling the Air Force's E-7 Wedgetail program, setting the stage for a possible battle with the chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee.
House and Senate lawmakers have released an updated version of the defense portion of the GOP's massive budget reconciliation bill, changing funding amounts in several key areas, including cuts to the military's support for border security operations.
Iran has launched retaliatory strikes against U.S. forces in the Middle East, targeting Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in response to American airstrikes on its nuclear program.
Senior defense officials are scheduled to speak at several events this week.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fielded a variety of questions from the Senate Armed Services Committee today, with several lawmakers criticizing the Pentagon's budgetary posture.
Pentagon adviser Alexander Velez-Green has been nominated to serve as deputy under secretary of defense for policy.
Marine Corps Gen. Christopher Mahoney has been nominated to serve as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The Defense Department has completed its congressionally mandated Unified Command Plan review, announcing its decision to transfer oversight of Greenland from U.S. European Command's area of responsibility to U.S. Northern Command.
Senior defense officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, are scheduled to appear on Capitol Hill this week.
The House Appropriations Committee wants Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to explain why he ordered cuts to the Pentagon's independent weapons testing office as "it is widely understood that there is increasing need for independent operational test and evaluation," especially in the cyber and electromagnetic realms.