President Donald Trump has called on Congress to pass his administration’s fiscal 2018 supplemental budget request that would allocate approximately $6 billion in additional funds for missile defense programs, South Asia strategy and ship repairs, the Washington Examiner reported Monday. Trump wrote a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) to …
Read More »James Mattis Discloses Changes to Rules of Engagement in Afghanistan at Senate Hearing
Defense Secretary James Mattis has said he has been authorized by the White House to reassess and change the rules of engagement in Afghanistan to help expedite the campaign against the Taliban group, Defense News reported Tuesday. Mattis told Senate Armed Services Committee members during a hearing Tuesday that some of the …
Read More »5 Tech Groups Ask Senate to Insert Govt IT Modernization Bill in FY 2018 NDAA
Five technology trade organizations have asked the Senate to add as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2018 a bipartisan bill that would authorize federal agencies to establish funding mechanisms to update their information technology systems. The trade groups wrote in a Wednesday letter to Senate Armed Services …
Read More »Senate Advances $700B Defense Policy Bill for Fiscal 2018
The Senate has voted 84-9 to forgo debate on proposed amendments to a spending bill that would authorize $700 billion in Defense Department spending for fiscal 2018, Washington Examiner reported Thursday. The report said the upper chamber aims to hold a final vote Monday on the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act that includes …
Read More »James Mattis: 3-Month CR to Delay Induction of 11 Navy Ships, Impact 18 Army New-Start Projects
Defense Secretary James Mattis has said a three-month continuing resolution would impact several construction and procurement programs that would affect U.S. military readiness if enacted for fiscal year 2018, Defense News reported Tuesday. Mattis wrote in a Friday letter to Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Arizona) a short-term …
Read More »Lucian Niemeyer: DoD Supports Draft Senate Bill to Authorize New BRAC Round
Lucian Niemeyer, newly appointed assistant defense secretary for installations, has said the Defense Department backs a Senate bill that would push for a new round of base realignment and closures, Washington Examiner reported Tuesday. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Arizona) and Sen. Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island), SASC ranking member, …
Read More »Congress Forms National Defense Strategy Advisory Panel
Congress has established a 12-member advisory committee that will be responsible for the assessment of the country’s defense strategy that covers force structure, missions, risks and force posture, Defense News reported Friday. The House and Senate armed services panels formed the Commission on the National Defense Strategy for the U.S. …
Read More »Sen. John McCain Advises Against Industry Execs as DoD Leadership Nominees
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Arizona) has said he does not want the White House to nominate for Defense Department posts any more individuals who had worked at top five defense contractors, Defense News reported Tuesday. “I did not want people from the top five corporations,” said McCain …
Read More »Kurt Volker Named US Special Envoy for Peace Negotiations in Ukraine
The State Department has appointed Kurt Volker, a former U.S. ambassador to NATO, as U.S. special representative for Ukraine negotiations. “The United States remains fully committed to the objectives of the Minsk agreements, and I have complete confidence in Kurt to continue our efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine,” Secretary …
Read More »Matthew Donovan Nominated as Air Force Undersecretary
Matthew Donovan, a policy director and professional staff member at the Senate Armed Services Committee, has been nominated to serve as the next U.S. Air Force undersecretary, Air Force Times reported Thursday. In his current role, Donovan advises committee Chairman John McCain (R-Arizona) on matters related to the Defense Department‘s fixed-wing, manned …
Read More »