Defense

Senior Officials Downplay Trump Plan to Keep Troops In Iraq to ‘Watch Iran’

Some Baghdad watchers say the president’s remarks could imperil the U.S. troop presence in Iraq.

Tech

The Teams Who Test U.S. Cyber Defenses Aren’t Being Tough Enough: Pentagon Report

Overworked trainers and penetration testers can’t properly simulate the worst real-world threats, leaving operators “overconfident.”

Defense

Trump Administration Downplays Fears of Post-Treaty Arms Race

"Nothing the U.S. is currently looking at is nuclear in character,” a senior administration official says, after announcing INF withdrawal.

Defense

U.S. Navy Re-Evaluating 355-Ship Goal

The number could go up or down or include different types of ships.

Defense

Acting SecDef: I Haven’t Told the Pentagon to Prep for Afghanistan Withdrawal

In his first remarks to media as defense chief, Pat Shanahan says U.S. leaders are keeping their eyes on peace talks.

Defense

Is Trump Setting the Stage for a Military Intervention in Venezuela?

“Everything is on the table, all options,” an administration official said.

Defense

Ex-Envoy to the Anti-ISIS Coalition Says Trump Has ‘No Plan’ for What’s Next in Syria

Brett McGurk faulted the president for completely reversing Syria policy after one telephone conversation with Turkey’s president.

Defense

Army Chief Confirms U.S. Will Hand off ISIS Fight in Syria

Gen. Mark Milley is the first senior military official to say the military is proceeding in Syria as Trump wishes.

Defense

Vaporizing Another Norm, Trump Goes Partisan Inside the Pentagon

The president uses a missile-defense policy rollout to bash Democrats before the military’s senior leaders.

Defense

Confusion Reigns as Pentagon Begins Pulling Equipment Out of Syria

The timeline for withdrawal remains murky amid rocky negotiations with Turkey over the Kurds.

Oversight

Pentagon Owns Fewer Buildings Than Previously Thought: Audit

The Navy was counting buildings that were demolished and the Army was counting uninhabitable facilities on the books.

Tech

Pentagon Seeks a List of Ethical Principles for Using AI in War

An advisory board is drafting guidelines that may help shape worldwide norms for military artificial intelligence — and woo Silicon Valley to defense work.

Defense

Analysis: Democrats Are Wrong About Defense Spending

The need for investment is only likely to grow in the coming years.

Defense

Meet the New (Acting) Defense Secretary

With no military experience and just a year and a half in government, the former Boeing executive Patrick Shanahan has yet to develop a foreign-policy vision of his own.

Management

Hard-Nosed Pentagon Negotiator Removed From Job; Racked Up Huge Travel Costs

Shay Assad also backed a controversial plan to slow payments to defense contractors.

Defense

Four People Who Could Be the Next Defense Secretary

Former generals and powerful senators are likely to be considered to take over as President Trump’s next defense secretary.

Tech

Justice Hits Chinese Hackers For Attacking U.S. Navy, Agencies, Companies

Hackers with the Chinese government hit 45 targets in campaign going back years.

Defense

Trump Wanted Out of Syria. It’s Finally Happening.

The announcement is in stark contrast to recent remarks by senior U.S. officials on the presence of troops.

Defense

The Pentagon Thinks Cyber Ops Could Be The Next WMDs

U.S. military planners are asking researchers how to fight back hackers.