The Chinese government declined Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's request to speak by phone with his military counterpart in China, according to the Pentagon.
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Key Issues AUKUS & AI EXX-TACAMO Ukraine equipment
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 Chinese government declined Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's request to speak by phone with his military counterpart in China, according to the Pentagon.
The Senate Armed Services Committee today finalized its subcommittee rosters, including the chairs and ranking members.
The State Department has approved a possible $10 billion foreign military sale of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems to Poland, according to a Defense Security Cooperation Agency notice.
The chief of U.S. Strategic Command has informed Congress that China has now surpassed the United States in its number of intercontinental ballistic missile launchers, though America still has the edge regarding the total number of ICBMs and nuclear warheads, according to a memo sent to senior lawmakers.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI) said today he expects there will likely be "pressure" in the Senate to increase defense spending above President Biden's anticipated March 9 budget request, though House Republicans are on the hunt for savings at the Pentagon.
Senior defense officials are slated to speak at various events next week, while Congress holds several hearings on national security.
The United States has successfully shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina, according to a statement from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
The Defense Department today announced a new military aid package for Ukraine featuring $425 million in immediate weapons transfers from U.S. stocks and $1.75 billion in funds to procure new capabilities.
The Pentagon is currently tracking a high-altitude Chinese surveillance balloon flying above "sensitive sites" in the United States, though U.S. officials have decided it's too risky to shoot it down.
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), the new chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, pledged today to cut Pentagon spending, yet stressed that the investments needed to compete with China will be expensive.
The House Armed Services Committee has finalized its subcommittee rosters, naming chairs, ranking members and members.
Democrats and Republicans today announced the members who will serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers from the House and Senate, led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), is asking Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to "curtail" the Pentagon’s practice of sending Congress billions of dollars in "unfunded priorities lists" not included in the president's initial budget submission.
Republicans and Democrats have now announced membership rosters for the House Appropriations defense subcommittee.
The White House Office of Management and Budget said today that the Biden administration intends to submit its fiscal year 2024 budget proposal on March 9.
The Pentagon, in coordination with the Institute for Defense Analyses, has established a new Defense Management Institute to be an "independent research entity" to help reform the department's business operations.
Think tanks around the Washington area are scheduled to host several national security discussions this week, while senior Pentagon officials speak at a space conference.
The office of the Defense Department’s chief weapons tester has publicly issued a single annual report today, reversing course from the previous year in which it produced a second, non-public report for Congress containing “controlled unclassified information” on the performance -- or lack thereof -- of major weapon systems.
The Defense Department today announced a $2.5 billion military aid package for Ukraine that includes the transfer of hundreds of combat vehicles from U.S. stocks including Strykers, Bradleys and mine-resistant trucks as well as other weapons.
Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl said the war in Ukraine has entered a new phase in which Ukrainian troops will need more armored vehicles to battle an invading force of Russians now entrenched behind the front lines.