DEFENSE/GOP/JOHN MCCAIN/SENATE/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “U.S. Senator John McCain’s death will likely shift leadership of the Senate Armed Services Committee from one of President Donald Trump’s most vocal Republican critics to one of his biggest supporters, which observers say could mean fewer checks on the Pentagon. No decision has been announced since McCain’s death on Saturday […]
Category: Defense
8/17/2018
DEFENSE/HOLIDAY/MILITARY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump announced Friday [8-17-18] that he has canceled plans for a military parade in Washington, and ignited a feud with the D.C. mayor after accusing ‘local politicians’ of price gouging…CNBC reported Thursday [8-16-18] that the expected cost of Trump’s planned parade had ballooned to $92 million, significantly higher than previous […]
8/17/2018
DEFENSE/HOLIDAY/MILITARY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Trump on Friday [8-17-18] officially surrendered his order for a massive military parade in the nation’s capital, as spiraling costs rendered his vision of a Veterans Day extravaganza too expensive to justify. Mr. Trump sought to blame local government officials in Washington for inflating the price of the parade ‘so ridiculously […]
8/16/2018
DEFENSE/HOLIDAY/MILITARY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The Department of Defense says the military parade originally scheduled for Veterans Day will be postponed…The parade was scheduled for the day before the 100th anniversary of the armistice that ended the First World War. French President Emmanuel Macron is holding a gathering of world leaders in Paris on November 11 to […]
8/16/2018
DEFENSE/HOLIDAY/MILITARY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “A military parade requested by U.S. President Donald Trump that had been planned for November in Washington has been postponed until at least next year, the Defense Department said on Thursday [8-16-18]…A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it was unclear exactly what caused the postponement but the increased cost […]
8/15/2018
DEFENSE/SENATE/SPENDING/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “U.S. senators agreed on Wednesday [8-15-15] to debate and vote in the next few days on more than $850 billion in spending on defense, labor and healthcare programs, as the Trump administration announced its objections to some parts of the bill. The so-called ‘minibus’ appropriations bill includes nearly $675 billion in spending […]
8/13/2018
DEFENSE/JOHN MCCAIN/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump thanked multiple members of Congress involved in passing the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act at a signing ceremony at Fort Drum, New York, Monday [8-13-18], with one major exception: the senator for whom the bill is named…Trump, who did not serve in the military himself, has […]
8/13/2018
DEFENSE/MILITARY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “It was my great honor to sign our new Defense Bill into law and to pay tribute to the greatest soldiers in the history of the world: THE U.S. ARMY. The National Defense Authorization Act is the most significant investment in our Military and our warfighters in modern history! https://t.co/M6VI1c0Sgx“ –Donald Trump, […]
8/13/2018
DEFENSE/IRAN/MILITARY/NORTH KOREA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “A bill signed by President Donald Trump on Monday [8-13-18] asks the Pentagon to pursue more options for defeating U.S.-bound North Korean missiles by using radar and more missiles to spot and shoot down inbound threats. The National Defense Authorization Act gives the Pentagon $716 billion, with almost $10 billion going […]
8/13/2018
CHINA/DEFENSE/JOHN MCCCAIN/MILITARY/SPENDING/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “U.S. President Donald Trump signed a $716 billion defense policy bill on Monday [8-13-18] that authorizes military spending and includes watered-down controls on U.S. government contracts with China’s ZTE Corp and Huawei Technologies Co Ltd. Trump signed the law at the U.S. Army’s Fort Drum base in upstate New York on […]
8/9/2018
DEFENSE/MIKE PENCE/MILITARY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Vice President Pence promoted a proposed Space Command on Thursday [8-9-18] as ‘an idea whose time has come’ in comments at the Pentagon to unveil a few more details about President Trump’s plan to create another military force, this one for outer space, and to be in operation by 2020. Mr. […]
8/9/2018
DEFENSE/MIKE PENCE/MILITARY/TRUMP PEOPLE: “Vice President Mike Pence laid out an ambitious plan Thursday [8-9-18] to put President Trump’s stamp on the U.S. military by creating a military command dedicated to space—the Space Force. If established by Congress, the Space Force would join the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard and become […]
8/9/2018
DEFENSE/MILITARY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Space Force all the way!” -Donald Trump, Twitter.com, August 9, 2018 11:03 am […]
8/7/2018
DEFENSE/MILITARY/TRUMP PEOPLE: “U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Tuesday [8-7-18] threw his support behind the idea of creating a space-focused military command but stopped short of promising the new ‘Space Force’ branch of service that President Donald Trump has touted. Trump called for the creation of a sixth branch of the military, for space, a […]
8/1/2018
CHINA/DEFENSE/SANCTIONS/SENATE/SPENDING/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The U.S. Senate passed a $716 billion defense policy bill on Wednesday [8-1-18], backing President Donald Trump’s call for a bigger, stronger military and sidestepping a potential battle with the White House over technology from major Chinese firms. The Senate voted 87-10 for the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act, or […]
7/6/2018
CIA/DEFENSE/MIKE POMPEO/NORTH KOREA/STATE/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Secretary of State Mike Pompeo kicked off talks in North Korea with one of leader Kim Jong Un’s top lieutenants, Gen. Kim Yong Chol, soon after arriving in Pyongyang. During his trip, Mr. Pompeo aims to fill out the details of a North Korean pledge to work toward denuclearization, including […]
6/21/2018
CHILDREN/DEFENSE/HHS/IMMIGRATION/MILITARY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The United States is preparing to shelter as many as 20,000 migrant children on four American military bases, a Pentagon spokesman said on Thursday, as federal officials struggled to carry out President Trump’s order to keep immigrant families together after they are apprehended at the border. The 20,000 beds at bases in […]
6/20/2018
BORDER/CONGRESS/DEFENSE/DHS/FAMILY SEPARATION/IMMIGRATION/TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDERS: “By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq., it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. Policy. It is the policy of this Administration to rigorously enforce […]
6/4/2018
DEFENSE/DEMS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP PEOPLE/VA: “The Pentagon’s inspector general is investigating President Donald Trump’s former personal physician, who was accused of unprofessional behavior while being considered to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Bruce Anderson, a spokesman for the Defense Department’s inspector general, said in a statement Monday [6-4-18] the watchdog has ‘initiated an investigation into […]
6/1/2018
DEFENSE/IRAQ/ISIS/MIDDLE EAST/MILITARY/SYRIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The Pentagon has told Congress it estimates that nearly 500 civilians were killed as a result of US military actions in the first year of the Trump administration. ‘(The Department of Defense) assesses that there are credible reports of approximately 499 civilians killed and approximately 169 civilians injured during 2017’ as […]
5/21/2018
DEFENSE/IRAN/MIKE POMPEO/MILITARY/NUCLEAR/TRUMP PEOPLE: “The US will aim to ‘crush’ Iran with economic and military pressure unless it changes its behavior in the Middle East, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Monday [5-21-18]. Pompeo, unveiling the Trump administration’s new policy on Iran just weeks after President Donald Trump pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal, said […]
5/15/2018
BORDER/DEFENSE/HHS/IMMIGRATION/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The Trump administration is exploring holding children caught crossing the border on military bases, signaling the latest effort to move forward with plans to split up families who cross the border illegally. According to a Defense Department official, staffers from the Department of Health and Human Services have begun informally looking at […]
5/2/2018
DEFENSE/GUANTANAMO/ISIS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP PEOPLE: “The Pentagon has missed a deadline for coming up with new policies regarding detainees captured on the battlefield and the transfer of those individuals to Guantanamo Bay, a deadline set by a January 30 executive order signed by President Donald Trump…Trump’s executive order said Secretary of Defense James Mattis should ‘recommend […]
4/4/2018
BORDER/DEFENSE/IMMIGRATION/MILITARY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Trump will issue a proclamation on Wednesday [4-4-28] directing the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security to work with governors to deploy National Guard troops to the southwest border to assist the Border Patrol in combating illegal immigration…In recent days, and in anticipation of an annual increase in […]
3/28/2018
CIA/DEFENSE/FOREIGN POLICY/JAMES MATTIS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP PEOPLE: “Defense Secretary James Mattis is doing his best to downplay notions that he is concerned about working with President Donald Trump’s hawkish new national security adviser John Bolton despite signs of a shifting power dynamic at the highest levels of the administration and strong indications that the two men […]
3/12/2018
AFGHANISTAN/DEFENSE/FOREIGN POLICY/JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY: “The United States is picking up signs of interest from Taliban elements in exploring the possibility of talks with Kabul to end the more than 16-year-old war, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Tuesday [3-13-18] as he made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan… Afghan President Ashraf Ghani offered talks without preconditions […]
2/27/2018
CYBERWAR/DEFENSE/NSA/RUSSIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The head of the National Security Agency told lawmakers Tuesday [2-27-18] that he hadn’t been formally asked by President Donald Trump to take steps to disrupt Russian election hacking activity at its source. Adm. Mike Rogers was asked by Sen. Jack Reed (D., R.I.) during testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee […]
2/23/2018
DEFENSE/JAMES MATTIS/LGBTQ: “U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has made his recommendations to the White House on transgender individuals and military service, the Pentagon said on Friday [2-23-18]. Major David Eastburn, a Pentagon spokesman, said the recommendations had been made earlier on Friday and the White House would make any policy decisions. In September, the Pentagon […]
2/20/2018
DEFENSE/STATE/TRUMP MEMORANDA: “MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF SUBJECT: Delegation of Authorities under Section 1245 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the […]
2/9/2018
DEFENSE/STATE/TRUMP MEMORANDA: “MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE SUBJECT: Delegation of Certain Functions and Authorities under Section 1235 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 301 […]
2/8/2018
DEFENSE/STATE/TRUMP MEMORANDA: “MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE SUBJECT: Delegation of Certain Functions and Authorities under Section 1252 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 301 […]
2/7/2018
BUDGET/DEFENSE/MILITARY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The U.S. Department of Defense is planning a military parade at the request of President Donald Trump, White House and Pentagon officials said Tuesday [2-6-18]. After observing the Bastille Day celebrations in Paris last year, Mr. Trump said he wanted to hold a similar parade on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, perhaps to […]
2/6/2018
BUDGET/DEFENSE/GOP/HOUSE OF REPS: “House GOP leaders on Tuesday [2-6-18] are expected to bring up for a vote legislation that would fund the Defense Department for the rest of the fiscal year, but keep the rest of the government running only through March 23, setting up a showdown with the Senate. With the government’s current funding […]
2/5/2018
DEFENSE/INTELLIGENCE/NATIONAL SECURITY/STATE/TREASURY/TRUMP MEMORANDA: “SUBJECT: Delegation of Certain Functions and Authorities under Section 1238 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby delegate […]
2/5/2018
DEFENSE/GUANTANAMO/JAMES MATTIS: “Secretary of Defense James Mattis fired two top Guantanamo Bay officials on Monday [2-5-18] over a ‘loss of confidence,’ a senior defense official tells CNN… Crosson said that Mattis has appointed Jim Coyne, who currently serves as the general counsel at the Defense Logistics Agency, as the acting convening authority. There are several […]
2/5/2018
DEFENSE/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “One of the Pentagon’s largest agencies can’t account for hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of spending, a leading accounting firm says in an internal audit obtained by POLITICO that arrives just as President Donald Trump is proposing a boost in the military budget. Ernst & Young found that the Defense Logistics […]
1/30/2018
9/11/DEFENSE/IRAQ/ISIS/SYRIA/TALIBAN/TERRORISM/TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDERS: “By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. Findings. (a) Consistent with long-standing law of war principles and applicable law, the United States may detain certain persons captured in connection with an […]
1/29/2018
DEFENSE/RUSSIA/TRADE DEALS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The Trump administration announced Monday [1-29-18] that it had decided against imposing any sanctions on countries that buy Russian military equipment, saying that a new law was already deterring billions of dollars in such purchases. The law required that sanctions be imposed against large purchasers of Russian arms, but it granted […]
1/23/2018
DEFENSE/NATIONAL SECURITY/TRUMP MEMORANDA: “Presidential Determination No. 2018-04 MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE SUBJECT: Presidential Determination Pursuant to Section 4533(a)(5) of the Defense Production Act of 1950 By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 4533(a)(5) of the Defense Production Act of 1950 […]
1/23/2018
DEFENSE/NATIONAL SECURITY/TRUMP MEMORANDA: “Presidential Determination No. 2018-03 MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE SUBJECT: Presidential Determination Pursuant to Section 4533(a)(5) of the Defense Production Act of 1950 By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 4533(a)(5) of the Defense Production Act of 1950 […]
1/19/2018
CHINA/DEFENSE/JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY/RUSSIA: “The United States is switching its priority to countering Chinese and Russian military might after almost two decades of focusing on the fight against terrorism, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Friday [1-19-18], unveiling a national defense strategy that Pentagon officials say will provide a blueprint for years to come. The new strategy echoes […]
1/15/2018
CHINA/DEFENSE/FOREIGN POLICY/MILITARY/NATIONAL SECURITY/NUCLEAR/RUSSIA: “The Pentagon is planning to develop two new sea-based nuclear weapons to respond to Russia and China’s growing military capabilities, according to a sweeping Defense Department review of nuclear strategy. The planned move has ignited a broad debate over future U.S. nuclear strategy at a time when the nation also faces the […]
1/9/2018
DEFENSE/DHS/HEALTHCARE/MILITARY/TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDERS/VA/VETS: “By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. Policy. It is the policy of the United States to support the health and well-being of uniformed service members and veterans. After serving our […]
12/22/2017
DEFENSE/TAXES/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Will be signing the biggest ever Tax Cut and Reform Bill in 30 minutes in Oval Office. Will also be signing a much needed 4 billion dollar missile defense bill.” -Donald Trump, Twitter.com, Dec. 22, 2017 10:07am […]
12/21/2017
DEFENSE/JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY: “Defense Secretary Jim Mattis left Washington Wednesday [12-20-17] on an unannounced trip to visit U.S. troops for the holidays, officials said. Mr. Mattis will visit American forces stationed at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Camp Lejeune, N.C.; Ft. Bragg, N.C.; and the Mayport naval base in Jacksonville, Fla., Defense officials […]
12/19/2017
BUDGET/DEFENSE/HEALTHCARE/OBAMACARE(ACA): “The U.S. Congress is struggling through another contentious week as infighting over defense spending, healthcare and other matters complicates the drive to pass a temporary spending bill by midnight on Friday [12-22-17] to avert a partial government shutdown. In a week when President Donald Trump and his fellow Republicans in Congress are hoping to […]
12/13/2017
DEFENSE/IRAN/SAUDI ARABIA/YEMEN: “The Trump administration will present evidence Thursday [12-14-17] of what it says is proof that Iran has provided missiles to Houthi rebels in Yemen, missiles like those the rebels have recently fired into Saudi Arabia, three defense officials told CNN Wednesday. The evidence, including missile components, is expected to be presented to reporters […]
12/10/2017
DEFENSE/FOREIGN POLICY/SOMALIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Amid its escalating campaign of drone strikes in Somalia, the Pentagon has presented the White House with an operational plan that envisions at least two more years of combat against Islamist militants there, according to American officials familiar with internal deliberations. The proposed plan for Somalia would be the first under […]
11/16/2017
DEFENSE: “The Defense Department’s official Twitter account retweeted a message Thursday [11-16-17] calling for three politicians, including President Trump, to step away from politics amid sexual assault allegations, but quickly deleted it and said it was a mistake. The tweet, by a person using the handle ‘Proud Resister,’ stated that Trump and Sen. Al Franken […]
11/14/2017
DEFENSE/MILITARY/NATIONAL SECURITY/NUCLEAR/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “U.S. senators on Tuesday [11-14-17] took a rare look at the decades-old presidential authority to launch a nuclear strike, posing questions at a hearing about the process President Donald Trump would follow if he were to order such an attack… Three former government and military officials who were questioned by the […]
11/6/2017
DEFENSE/FDA: “The Defense Department — and not FDA — would have the power to approve drugs and medical devices under the defense policy bill that’s being hammered out by a conference committee, alarming congressional staff and Health and Human Services officials who say it would undermine medical safety and potentially put soldiers at risk. Section […]
10/29/2017
DEFENSE/JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY/REX TILLERSON/STATE: “U.S. lawmakers will grill top Trump administration officials on Monday [10-30-17] about a new authorization for the use of military force in the campaign against Islamic State and other militant groups, Congress’ most significant step in years toward taking back control of its constitutional right to authorize war. Secretary of State Rex […]
10/27/2017
DEFENSE/JAMES MATTIS/NORTH KOREA: “Defense Secretary Jim Mattis denounced North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un’s regime as a threat to regional security during a visit to the demilitarized zone that divides the two Koreas, even as he reaffirmed the U.S.’s commitment to diplomacy. ‘North Korean provocations continue to threaten regional and global security despite unanimous condemnation […]
10/22/2017
DEFENSE/JAMES MATTIS/NATIONAL SECURITY/NORTH KOREA: “Defense Secretary Jim Mattis arrived here to meet with regional counterparts as the U.S. attempts to coordinate efforts to counter North Korean belligerence. The Pentagon chief is scheduled to meet Monday with Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera, Philippine Defense Minister Delfin Lorenzana and South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo during a […]
10/20/2017
9/11/AIR FORCE/ARMY/DEFENSE/NAVY/NEW YORK/PENNSYLVANIA/TERRORISM/TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDERS: “By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), and in furtherance of the objectives of Proclamation 7463 of September 14, 2001 (Declaration of National Emergency by Reason of […]
10/12/2017
DEFENSE/MILITARY/NUCLEAR/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The Pentagon has no current plans to increase the size of the U.S. nuclear arsenal. In fact, it can barely sustain the existing force, which is decades old and is in some respects almost decrepit. The arsenal is far from being in the ‘perfect shape’ that President Donald Trump said Wednesday [10-11-17] […]
10/4/2017
BUDGET/CRISIS/DEFENSE/MILITARY: “The extended deployment of military cargo jets and Navy ships to help with Hurricane Maria and Hurricane Irma relief efforts is causing military planners to scramble and recalculate future deployments all the way from Afghanistan to the Korean Peninsula, according to several defense officials familiar with discussions underway inside the Defense Department. Due to […]
10/3/2017
DEFENSE/FOREIGN POLICY/IRAN/JAMES MATTIS/NATIONAL SECURITY/NUCLEAR: “Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis told lawmakers Tuesday [10-3-17] that he supports the 2015 international nuclear deal with Iran, even though President Donald Trump has called it ‘one of the worst and most one-sided’ agreements ever made by the U.S… Mr. Trump must certify to Congress whether Iran remains in compliance […]
9/27/2017
DEFENSE/RUSSIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia presided over the destruction of his country’s last declared chemical weapons on Wednesday, describing the elimination as a ‘historic event’ and complaining that the United States has failed to purge its own chemical arsenal… In Washington, a State Department official said that the United States ‘fully […]
9/18/2017
DEFENSE/JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY/NORTH KOREA/SOUTH KOREA/UN: “The U.S. has military options available for North Korea that won’t put South Korea at grave risk of counterattack, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Monday [9-18-17], but he refused to spell out what those are. Mr. Mattis also said in an impromptu meeting with reporters at the Pentagon that the U.S. […]
9/18/2017
BUDGET/DEFENSE/MILITARY: “The Senate on Monday [9-18-17] passed the annual defense policy bill, in a broad show of support for boosting military spending well above the current limits set by law. The measure passed overwhelmingly Monday evening, in an 89-8 vote… Mr. McCain urged lawmakers to support higher military spending not only in the defense policy […]
9/15/2017
DEFENSE/MILITARY/TRUMP MEMORANDA: “Presidential Memorandum for the Secretary of Defense Thirteenth Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation In addition to our support and gratitude, we owe our men and women in uniform the tools, equipment, resources, and training they need to fight and win. Our military compensation system must recognize their sacrifices and adequately and fairly reward […]
9/15/2017
DEFENSE/IMMIGRATION/MILITARY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “…In the last week, recruiters have rescinded contracts for an unknown number of foreign nationals who had signed up for Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest, or Mavni, a program introduced in 2009 to attract immigrants with certain language and other skills that are in short supply into the armed forces. […]
9/13/2017
CRISIS/DEFENSE/JAMES MATTIS/MEXICO: “Defense Secretary Jim Mattis will resume his role as the reassurer for American allies this week when he heads to Mexico, where he will try to mend relations after President Trump failed to quickly offer condolences for the earthquake on Friday [9-15-17] that killed at least 96 people and severely damaged thousands of […]
9/12/2017
BUDGET/DEFENSE/JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY: “Defense Secretary James Mattis is warning Congress that a long-term continuing resolution to fund the government will lead to irrecoverable lost training time, delayed ship maintenance and critical personnel gaps. In a letter to defense committee leaders obtained by CNN, Mattis detailed the effects of a continuing resolution, which Congress frequently uses to […]
9/11/2017
DEFENSE/LGBTQ/MILITARY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The Senate is likely to tackle a slew of contentious issues this week during debate over the annual defense policy bill, from the status of transgender troops to war powers and even a surprise push by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) to allow the military to close bases across the country. It’ll also […]
8/31/2017
DEFENSE/DHS/LGBTQ/MILITARY/TRUMP MEMORANDA: “Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:) I am transmitting an alternative plan for monthly basic pay increases for members of the uniformed services for 2018. I strongly support our men and women […]
8/25/2017
DEFENSE/DHS/LGBTQ/MILITARY/TRUMP MEMORANDA: “Presidential Memorandum for the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security Military Service by Transgender Individuals… Until June 2016, the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) (collectively, the Departments) generally prohibited openly transgender individuals from accession into the United States military and authorized the discharge of […]
8/24/2017
DEFENSE/JAMES MATTIS/RUSSIA/UKRAINE: “Defense Secretary Jim Mattis vowed on Thursday [8-24-17] to help Ukraine stand up to Russian violations of its sovereignty and signaled that the Trump administration was considering providing defensive weapons to the Ukrainian military. President Barack Obama had resisted such a step, fearing it would be seen as a provocation by Russia. In […]
8/18/2017
CYBERWAR/DEFENSE/TRUMP MEMORANDA: “Presidential Memorandum for the Secretary of Defense Elevation of U.S. Cyber Command to a Unified Combatant Command Pursuant to my authority as the Commander in Chief and under sections 161 and 167b of title 10, United States Code, and in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs […]
8/2/2017
DEFENSE/JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY/UAE: “Defense Secretary James Mattis received permission from the US military after retiring from the Marine Corps to work as a military adviser to the United Arab Emirates, newly disclosed Pentagon records show. Mattis, a retired Marine general, was not paid for the advising work, according to the Pentagon, and the advising role was […]
8/1/2017
DEFENSE/NOMINATIONS: “The Senate voted unanimously Tuesday [8-2-17] to confirm eight of President Donald Trump’s picks to help lead the Department of Defense, more than doubling the number of his administration’s political appointees at the Pentagon. The list of eight confirmations included Richard Spencer to be Secretary of the Navy and Ellen Lord to be the […]
8/1/2017
DEFENSE/MILITARY/STATE/UKRAINE: “The Pentagon and State Department have proposed to the White House a plan to supply Ukraine with anti-tank missiles and other arms, according to Defense Department officials. The proposed transfer — which also would include antiaircraft arms that would be defined as defensive weaponry — comes as fighting between Ukrainian troops and Russian-backed separatists […]
7/24/2017
BUDGET/DEFENSE/JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY: “Defense Secretary Jim Mattis blasted the Pentagon bureaucracy for ‘cavalier’ spending in light of a recent report that showed as much as $28 million had been wasted in buying uniforms for the Afghan army, according to a memo obtained by USA TODAY. The report found that U.S. military officials have purchased the forest-camouflage […]
7/21/2017
COLOMBIA/DEFENSE/DRUGS/STATE/TRUMP MEMORANDA: “Presidential Memorandum for the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense Continuation of U.S. Drug Interdiction Assistance to the Government of Colombia By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, and pursuant to the authority vested in me by section 1012 of […]
7/21/2017
DEFENSE/ECONOMY/TRUMP EXEC ORDERS: ” ‘Assessing and Strengthening the Manufacturing and Defense Industrial Base and Supply Chain Resiliency of the United States’ The order names national manufacturing as essential to economic strength and national security of the United States, and calls the loss of manufacturing jobs and an industrial base in the country a threat to […]
7/21/2017
DEFENSE/NATIONAL SECURITY: “The White House said it is conducting a broad review of the strength of the U.S. defense-industrial sector to try to correct weaknesses in advanced technology and industrial policy. The Pentagon has long been worried that the decline in important parts of U.S. manufacturing has weakened U.S. national security. The review, to be […]
7/21/2017
DEFENSE/DHS/ECONOMY/ENERGY/JOBS/LABOR/MANUFACTURING/MILITARY/NATIONAL SECURITY/TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDERS: “By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. Policy. A healthy manufacturing and defense industrial base and resilient supply chains are essential to the economic strength and national security of the […]
7/14/2017
BUDGET/DEFENSE/HOUSE OF REPS: “The U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of a massive annual defense bill on Friday [7-14-17], leaving out controversial amendments on transgender troops and climate policy but backing President Donald Trump’s desire for a bigger, stronger military. The vote was 344-81 to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which sets […]
7/12/2017
BUDGET/DEFENSE/NATIONAL SECURITY: “The National Defense Authorization Act is a massive $696 billion defense policy bill that covers everything from F-35 fighter jets to Guantanamo Bay to military pay raises. It’s also a prime opportunity for Democrats to try to force politically difficult votes on Republicans dealing with President Donald Trump’s business ties, his family members […]
7/11/2017
DEFENSE/MILITARY: “A United States-built missile defense system on Tuesday [7-11-17] successfully intercepted its target during a test run, the US Missile Defense Agency said. The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system successfully shot down a target over Alaska, according to a news release. ‘I couldn’t be more proud of the government and […]
7/6/2017
DEFENSE/NATIONAL SECURITY/NORTH KOREA/NUCLEAR/TRUMP PEOPLE/JAMES MATTIS: “The Trump administration said it would give diplomacy more time to resolve a gathering crisis over North Korea’s efforts to build a nuclear weapon that can reach U.S. shores. On Thursday [7-6-17], Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the U.S. wasn’t closer to war, in his first remarks since North Korea […]
6/30/2017
DEFENSE/TRUMP PEOPLE/JAMES MATTIS: “A plan to allow transgender recruits to join the United States military beginning on Saturday [7-2-17] has been delayed for six months by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, a Pentagon spokeswoman said on Friday. The 11th-hour decision byMr. Mattis will allow service leaders to ‘review their accession plans and provide input’ as they […]
6/28/2017
DEFENSE/SYRIA/TRUMP PEOPLE/JAMES MATTIS: “U.S. Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said on Wednesday [6-28-17] that the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad appeared so far to have heeded a warning this week from Washington not to carry out a chemical weapons attack. But Russia, the Syrian government’s main backer, said the U.S. assertions that Assad’s forces may […]
6/23/2017
DEFENSE/TRUMP PEOPLE/JAMES MATTIS: “The top Republican and Democrat on the Senate armed services committee are asking Defense Secretary James Mattis to investigate accusations of torture at prisons in Yemen run by United Arab Emirates forces where US forces were also interrogating prisoners. Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Jack Reed of Rhode Island sent a […]
6/21/2017
DEFENSE/TRUMP MEMORANDA: “Presidential Memorandum for the Secretary of Defense — Delegation of Authority under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby delegate to the Secretary of Defense the functions and authorities vested in the President […]
6/21/2017
DEFENSE/MILITARY/TRUMP PEOPLE/JAMES MATTIS: “Congress is considering placing new limits on the Trump administration’s war-making powers as the White House delegates key decisions on military action to the Pentagon. Democrats and some key Republicans say they’re alarmed that President Donald Trump has delegated the decision to set troop levels in Afghanistan to his defense secretary, James […]
6/13/2017
DEFENSE/TRUMP MEMORANDA: “Letter from the President — Defense Production Act of 1950 Dear Mr. Chairman: (Dear Representative:)(Dear Senator:) In accordance with section 303(a)(6)(A) of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended (the “Act”) (50 U.S.C. 4533(a)(6)(A)), I transmit herewith notice of actions to rectify a shortfall in the space industrial base. The Department of […]
6/7/2017
DEFENSE/MILITARY/SYRIA: “The Defense Department said on Wednesday [6-7-17] that its investigation of the American airstrike on a mosque complex near Aleppo, Syria, in March found that it was legal and appropriate, and that it resulted in one possible civilian casualty, not dozens as human rights groups had asserted. The Pentagon said a meeting of Al […]
6/7/2017
CHINA/DEFENSE/FOREIGN POLICY: “China pushed back against a Pentagon warning about the Chinese military’s growing ambitions outside Asia, calling the U.S. report ‘irresponsible’ and saying China’s defense policy was aimed at safeguarding its sovereignty. In a new report on the Chinese military published Tuesday [6-6-17], the U.S. Defense Department said China’s military, the People’s Liberation Army, […]
5/24/2017
CABINET/DEFENSE/MILITARY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “U.S. warplanes dropped more weapons on Afghanistan in April than in any other single month since 2012, according to new statistics, as military officials press U.S. President Donald Trump to send thousands more troops to the country. The escalation in the use of American air power was partly due to an effort […]
5/23/2017
CABINET/DEFENSE/MILITARY/TRUMP PEOPLE/JAMES MATTIS: “Defense Secretary James Mattis was taken by surprise when the US Air Force dropped a Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, also known as the ‘Mother of All Bombs,’ on Islamic State targets in Afghanistan in April, according to a recent report in The New Yorker. The decision to use the largest nonnuclear […]
5/19/2017
CABINET/DEFENSE/TRUMP PEOPLE/JAMES MATTIS: “U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Friday [5-19-17] the U.S.-led coalition was now encircling Islamic State fighters in their strongholds in a tactical shift before starting a military campaign to destroy them. Also speaking at the Pentagon on Friday, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford, said […]
5/11/2017
CABINET/DEFENSE/FOREIGN POLICY/TRUMP PEOPLE/JAMES MATTIS/TURKEY: “U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis voiced strong support for Turkey’s fight against PKK militants after talks with Turkey’s prime minister on Thursday [5-11-17], as Ankara fumes over a U.S. decision to arm Kurdish fighters in Syria it equates to PKK allies. Mattis expressed optimism that Washington and Ankara would work through […]
5/10/2017
CABINET/DEFENSE/FOREIGN POLICY/NATO/TRUMP PEOPLE/JAMES MATTIS: “Defense Secretary Jim Mattis traveled to the eastern edge of the NATO alliance on Wednesday [5-10-17] to pledge American solidarity with the Baltic nations, but he stopped short of giving his hosts in Lithuania what they wanted: a commitment to base Patriot missile-defense systems in the region. With Russia adopting an […]
4/29/2017
COMMERCE/DEFENSE/ECONOMY/JOBS/MANUFACTURING/TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDERS: “By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. Establishment. The Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy (OTMP) is hereby established within the White House Office. The OTMP shall consist of a Director […]
4/28/2017
DEFENSE/ENERGY/JOBS/MANUFACTURING/MILITARY/TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDERS: “By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq., and in order to maintain global leadership in energy innovation, exploration, and production, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section […]
4/24/2017
AFGHANISTAN/CABINET/DEFENSE/FOREIGN POLICY/TRUMP PEOPLE/JAMES MATTIS: “Defense Secretary Jim Mattis made an unannounced trip to Afghanistan to meet with Afghan leaders and U.S. military officials Monday [4-24-17], taking a fresh look at a 15-year war where he served during its first optimistic months. Mattis’ visit capped a six-country tour through the Middle East, his first as secretary […]
4/21/2017
BUDGET/DEFENSE/MILITARY/TRUMP PEOPLE/JAMES MATTIS: “Defense Secretary James Mattis has privately told Congress the Trump administration’s Pentagon budget request isn’t sufficient to cover the cost of rebuilding the military as President Donald Trump has vowed to do, four sources familiar with the conversations told CNN. Trump has repeatedly said he would rebuild the military with a massive […]
4/21/2017
CABINET/DEFENSE/FOREIGN POLICY/SYRIA/TRUMP PEOPLE/JAMES MATTIS: “U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Friday there was ‘no doubt’ that the Syrian government has chemical weapons, following a U.S. strike earlier this month on a Syrian air base that targeted a stockpile believed to have been used on a rebel-held town. ‘The bottom line is there can be no […]