Friday, April 19, 2024
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 Defense Department is taking steps to prepare for a government shutdown slated for Sunday night that would furlough thousands of civilians and require military servicemembers to work without pay until Congress can pass a stopgap continuing resolution.
The GOP-led House, facing the increasing likelihood of a government shutdown on Oct. 1, narrowly passed an annual defense appropriations bill last night that has little-to-zero chance in the Democrat-led Senate and would be vetoed by President Biden over its inclusion of conservative policy riders and politically divisive amendments that would, among other things, strip military aid to Ukraine and cut Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s salary to $1.
Two Biden administration officials who have been nominated for senior acquisition and policy posts at the Pentagon said they are committed to streamlining the contracting process for Ukraine and pledged to address the growing backlog to obligate funds appropriated by Congress.
The Senate Armed Services Committee has voted to advance the nominations of Adm. Lisa Franchetti to be chief of naval operations and Gen. David Allvin to be Air Force chief of staff, setting up confirmation votes that will need to be considered individually if they are to shirk the blanket hold put in place months ago by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL).
House Republicans were able to muster enough votes last night to advance debate on the fiscal year 2024 defense appropriations bill, a goal that had eluded them three times previously.
Senate appropriators have released a bipartisan stopgap funding bill that would avert a government shutdown through Nov. 17, while providing military aid to Ukraine and allow the Defense Department to obligate money to begin construction of the Columbia-class submarine.
Pentagon acquisition chief Bill LaPlante, fresh from a meeting last week with NATO's top armaments directors, said defense contractors should expect the United States to soon announce more multinational procurement deals -- involving co-development, co-production and co-sustainment -- with its closest allies, including Ukraine.
Senior defense officials are scheduled to speak around the Washington area this week, including at a congressional hearing to discuss the Biden administration's decision to keep U.S. Space Command in Colorado, rather than relocate it to Alabama.
President Biden today announced a $325 million security assistance package for Ukraine that will transfer additional air defense systems and munitions directly from U.S. stocks, according to the Pentagon.
U.S. government officials told Congress this week that a $19 billion backlog of foreign military sales to Taiwan is due to shortcomings in the defense industrial base, but an influential business association that represents some of the largest Pentagon contractors seeks a more balanced view of the challenge.
President Biden intends to nominate Melissa Dalton to be Air Force under secretary, according to a White House announcement today.
House Republicans have again failed to advance the fiscal year 2024 defense appropriations bill, with several members of the GOP siding with Democrats to help to sink it by a vote of 212-216.
The Senate has voted 83-11 to confirm Air Force Gen. Charles "C.Q." Brown to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff after months of being stalled by Sen. Tommy Tuberville's (R-AL) ongoing hold on military nominations.
House Republicans and Democrats have named conferees to begin negotiations with the Senate over the fiscal year 2024 defense authorization bill.
The House voted 212-214 against beginning debate on the fiscal year 2024 defense spending bill, dealing another blow to Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), who has seen his efforts to pass legislation frustrated by the far-right flank of his own party.
The House voted 393-27 today to begin conference negotiations with the Senate over the fiscal year 2024 defense authorization bill.
An influential Washington business association that represents Pentagon contractors said today that companies should prepare for all contingencies related to a possible government shutdown on Oct. 1, even if they believe their work is fully funded.
The House Rules Committee has voted to advance a stopgap continuing resolution backed by some GOP conservatives that stands little likelihood of passing the Democrat-led Senate as it contains politically controversial and divisive provisions and doesn't include funding for disaster relief or Ukraine. (UPDATED)
Senior defense officials are scheduled to speak around the Washington area this week.
Pentagon acquisition chief Bill LaPlante is going to Brussels next week to urge NATO armaments directors to continue surging weapons production to assist Ukraine and deter Russia, but he noted today that he will be doing so as Congress, unable to pass defense spending bills and other appropriations packages, is sliding toward a government shutdown.