President Trump said today the United States will no longer sell Turkey the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter because of the latter country's purchase of a Russian-made missile system.
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Key Issues Optical clocks Prototype funding SPAFORGEN
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.
President Trump said today the United States will no longer sell Turkey the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter because of the latter country's purchase of a Russian-made missile system.
President Trump intends to nominate the Pentagon's acting Chief Management Officer Lisa Hershman to serve in the post as a Senate-confirmed official.
President Trump today formally nominated acting Defense Secretary Mark Esper to become the next Pentagon chief, triggering an internal succession process that sends Esper back to his initial administration role of Army secretary and elevates Navy Secretary Richard Spencer to be acting defense chief.
Senate lawmakers have scheduled a confirmation hearing this week for acting Defense Secretary Mark Esper. Meanwhile, senior defense officials are slated to appear around the Washington area.
The House today voted 220-197 to approve a fiscal year 2020 defense authorization bill that would support a total national security budget of $733 billion, putting it at odds with the Senate, which passed a version of the bill authorizing $750 billion.
The Army general nominated to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said today he is concerned Congress will be unable to reach a bipartisan budget deal to adequately fund the Pentagon.
The Senate Armed Services Committee announced today it intends to hold a nomination hearing Tuesday for acting Defense Secretary Mark Esper, whom President Trump has chosen to run the Pentagon.
The House Rules Committee voted 8-4 last night to allow debate and floor votes on 439 new amendments to the fiscal year 2020 defense authorization bill.
The Trump administration is threatening to veto the Democrat-led House's version of the fiscal year 2020 defense authorization bill, arguing that, in addition to a litany of other flaws, it is underfunded by $17 billion.
More than a dozen GOP senators last week revolted against the Trump administration's current budget negotiation strategy, which they said calls for potentially funding the federal government with a stopgap spending measure for a full year and requesting Congress provide special exemptions for new Pentagon spending.
Senior defense officials are preparing to choreograph a complicated leadership succession process that will leave the Pentagon with its third acting defense secretary in less than a year.
The House is scheduled to begin consideration of the fiscal year 2020 defense authorization bill, while the Senate Armed Services Committee holds a nomination hearing for the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Key Republican senators, including Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe (OK), have sent a letter to the White House urging the Trump administration to abandon plans for a yearlong stopgap spending measure, or continuing resolution, should budget negotiations with Democrats fail.
Key lawmakers are closely examining the behavior and decision-making of the Defense Department's technology chief, spurred by high-profile personnel departures from his office.
There are few events scheduled for the week ahead because of the Independence Day holiday. Congress is out.
Key lawmakers are closely examining the behavior and decision-making of the Defense Department's technology chief, spurred by high-profile personnel departures from his office.
The Senate voted 86-8 to pass a fiscal year 2020 defense policy bill that would authorize $750 billion for national security.
The Senate will vote Friday on a standalone amendment to the fiscal year 2020 defense authorization bill that would constrain President Trump's power to wage war on Iran, removing concerns that Democrats might unite to block the bill.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said today he is planning to schedule a final vote for the fiscal year 2020 defense authorization bill this week.
Acting Defense Secretary Mark Esper, who began running the Pentagon today, says the Defense Department's priorities "remain unchanged."