Friday, July 11, 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 White House has registered its disapproval over several weapons-related provisions in the Senate's version of the annual defense authorization bill -- some of which are also supported by the House -- according to a statement of administration policy released by the Office of Management and Budget.
Senior defense officials are slated to speak at several events this week.
The White House says it "strongly opposes" a provision in the Senate's version of the fiscal year 2024 defense authorization bill that would reestablish the position of the Defense Department's chief management officer, according to a statement of administration policy from the Office of Management and Budget.
The Senate passed the annual defense policy bill this evening by a vote of 86-11.
The Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee this morning released its draft version of the fiscal year 2024 defense spending bill, intending to fund the Pentagon at $831.7 billion, or about $5 billion above President Biden's request.
A team of GOP lawmakers led by Sens. Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Susan Collins (R-ME) has sent President Biden a letter urging him to send Congress a new spending request to support the AUKUS submarine initiative planned for the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.
President Biden intends to nominate State Department counselor Derek Chollet to be the Pentagon's next under secretary of defense for policy, according to a White House announcement.
The Defense Department today announced a $400 million rapid transfer of U.S. weapons to Ukraine.
The Defense Department today announced the establishment of three new assistant secretary of defense positions, along with eight deputy assistant secretaries of defense.
Senior defense officials, lawmakers and think tank analysts are scheduled to speak at several events around Washington this week, while various defense contractors discuss their quarterly earnings.
President Biden announced his intent to nominate several top Navy officials today, including Adm. Lisa Franchetti to be the first woman to serve as chief of naval operations. She currently serves as the vice chief.
Today’s INSIDER Daily Digest starts off with a Pentagon move to restrict auxiliary ship equipment purchases, a warning from the Army secretary, a hold on DOD reprogrammings that is causing headaches, and aircraft news involving the Navy’s F-18 and the Joint Strike Fighter program.
The Defense Department has told the Government Accountability Office it will consider tailoring some of its acquisition pathways to account for "agile" software development after a GAO report found that DOD lacks policy guidance in that area.
The Senate Armed Services Committee today approved the nominations of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Brown, who has been picked to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and Army Vice Chief Gen. Randy George, who has been selected to be the service's next chief of staff.
The Senate voted to adopt more than 50 non-controversial amendments in its version of the fiscal year 2024 defense authorization bill, including one that would give military service secretaries greater authority to kick-start prototype weapon systems.
The Senate has begun voting on its version of the annual defense authorization bill, beginning today with the consideration of various amendments.
The Defense Department intends to fund a $1.3 billion military aid package that will procure weapons from defense contractors to be sent to Ukraine, including air defense systems and critical munitions.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI) said today the panel has been briefed by the Defense Department on the legality of its policies that provide paid leave and reimbursed travel expenses for U.S. servicemembers seeking abortions, a matter at the center of Sen. Tommy Tuberville's (R-AL) ongoing blockade of hundreds of DOD nominees and promotions.
The Defense Innovation Board met today and reached the unanimous conclusion that the Pentagon suffers from a "culture of obstruction" that is blocking the adoption of cutting-edge technologies needed to compete with China.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said today the United States intends to continue sending combat vehicles to Ukraine as the ongoing counteroffensive against dug-in Russian forces proceeds more slowly than initially projected.