Thursday, December 7, 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.
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.
The Pentagon is seeking public input for how it could potentially accelerate payments to defense suppliers and subcontractors following the release of a comprehensive contract finance study.
The United States is sending a naval destroyer and F-35 Joint Strike Fighters and F-16 fighter jets to the Strait of Hormuz to monitor the waterway after several "alarming" actions from Iran, according to the Pentagon.
Senior defense officials are scheduled to speak around the Washington area this week.
The House voted 219-210 to pass the annual defense authorization bill today, with most Democrats voting against the legislation because they believed, as some said, it had become an "ode to bigotry and ignorance" after the inclusion of several GOP-backed amendments.
President Biden has signed an executive order naming Operation Atlantic Resolve a "contingency operation" and giving U.S. European Command new authorities, including the ability to call up 3,000 reservists to "augment" U.S. military presence in Europe.
Republicans and Democrats on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee today voiced frustration at the Defense Department's inability to pass a financial audit and, in their stated view, adequately defend itself from accusations of arrogance and incompetence amid ongoing votes to authorize nearly $900 billion in national defense spending.
The House Rules Committee has approved 360 amendments to the annual defense authorization bill that will be considered for votes on the floor, including politically controversial measures Democrats say would keep them from supporting the legislation.
The House Rules Committee last night voted to partly advance debate on the annual defense authorization bill, though the legislation cannot proceed to a floor vote without additional consideration of politically controversial amendments championed by GOP conservatives.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Brown, who has been nominated to serve as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told senators today he believes the Pentagon needs to commit to more multiyear procurement deals to build the weapon stockpiles necessary to aid Ukraine and Taiwan.
The Senate Armed Services Committee has released its version of the fiscal year 2024 defense authorization bill, which the panel approved last month in a 24-1 vote.
Though the White House "strongly supports" enactment of the annual defense authorization bill for the 63rd consecutive year, the Office of Management and Budget has detailed provisions related to weapon systems and other areas that it opposes in the House version of the legislation scheduled for a vote this week.
The House is set to vote on its version of the fiscal year 2024 defense authorization bill this week, with the Rules Committee scheduled to hold a hearing Tuesday to determine possible amendments to the legislation.
Senior defense officials will appear on Capitol Hill this week for several high-profile nomination hearings.
The Defense Department announced an $800 million military aid package for Ukraine today that includes controversial cluster munitions.
Nomination hearings have been scheduled for next week for 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, according to the Senate Armed Services Committee.
A Pentagon review has found that, while there is no systemic challenge to protecting classified information at the Defense Department, there has been a steady increase in the number of facilities that handle sensitive information as well as the number of personnel with access to that information, according to two senior defense officials.
A bipartisan group of House Armed Services Committee members recently traveled to the Indo-Pacific to discuss the region's security issues with key U.S. allies, including Taiwan.
The Independence Day holiday means few events are scheduled for this week.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley said today that "Joint Pub 1" will be released next month, the latest Joint Warfighting Concept doctrine that will "clarify and inform" how the U.S. military will fight in the future amid great power competition with China and Russia and the onset of disruptive technologies.