Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) said today he opposes President Trump's plans to suspend joint military exercises with South Korea.
Sunday, November 18, 2018
Sunday, November 18, 2018
Key Issues AFRL MQ-9 Missile Defense Agency
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.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) said today he opposes President Trump's plans to suspend joint military exercises with South Korea.
Harry Harris, President Trump's nominee for ambassador to South Korea, said during a Senate hearing today the nuclear threat stemming from North Korea remains a danger, despite Trump's statements to the contrary.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) said today he wants to work with his Senate counterparts to send a final fiscal year 2019 defense authorization bill to President Trump by the end of July.
The House Appropriations Committee today voted 48-4 to pass the fiscal year 2019 defense spending bill, approving a total of $606.5 billion in base funding and $68.1 billion for the Overseas Contingency Operations account.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) said today he supports President Trump’s decision to suspend joint military exercises with South Korea as long as negotiations with North Korea continue to move in a positive direction.
The House Appropriations Committee will begin debating a defense spending bill today that would rescind $870 million in funds previously allocated mostly for weapon systems, the largest cut being $115 million from the Navy's Tomahawk missile account.
The Pentagon, in lieu of details or reaction concerning President Trump's unexpected announcement today that the United States would cease military exercises with South Korea, released a statement praising Trump's meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Senate deliberations on the $716 billion fiscal year 2019 defense authorization bill have stalled because of arguments among Republicans, according to Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK).
Sen. David Perdue (R-GA) said today he is unsettled by President Trump's promise to cease military exercises with South Korea as a concession to North Korea.
The White House, citing a compressed legislative schedule, is opting to withhold comment on the Senate's version of the fiscal year 2019 defense authorization bill but plans to do so in the near future, according to a statement from the Office of Management and Budget.
The full Senate is expected to debate the fiscal year 2019 defense authorization bill this week, while the House Appropriations Committee will vote on the defense spending bill.
Under new Senate legislation, the Pentagon would be blocked from spending money to grow the size of the military in fiscal year 2019 or to develop a new amphibious assault vehicle before first handing over the results of a massive military review.
The Senate has begun debate on legislation that could force a broad review and restructuring of the Pentagon's top acquisition programs as the U.S. military wrestles with plans to prioritize global competitions with China and Russia over counterterrorism missions in the Middle East.
The House Appropriations defense subcommittee seeks to fund Pentagon modernization at $238 billion for fiscal year 2019, slightly above the Trump administration's request and in line with a House authorization bill passed last month, according to a draft of the panel's bill.
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has directed all Pentagon employees to support the first full-scale financial audit, though it may take years to achieve a "clean" opinion, according to a recent department-wide memo.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is canceling August recess, telling senators to remain in Washington to pass appropriations bills and vote on President Trump's nominees.
The Pentagon, contradicting an ongoing White House effort to cut the number of federal employees, plans to hire more civilians and reduce the cost of contracted services through in-sourcing, according to its new National Defense Business Operations Plan.
The House Appropriations defense subcommittee will convene in closed session Thursday to mark up its version of the fiscal year 2019 defense spending bill, following a trend in legislative secrecy that troubles those who advocate for increased government transparency.
The Senate Armed Services Committee is expected to release a detailed copy of its fiscal year 2019 defense authorization bill this week, while senior Pentagon officials are scheduled to speak at a variety of events in the Washington area.
Since his early days on the job, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has maintained that one of his major lines of effort is the strengthening of U.S. alliances abroad.