Pentagon & Congress

Largest budget in VA history gets backing from House appropriators

Lawmakers also plan to reclassify some VA spending to make it easier to balance future budgets.

House defense bill calls for US-built ships to modernize strategic sealift fleet

After neglecting strategic sealift for too long, some in Congress are trying a new approach to get the Navy and the Maritime Administration to invest in new US-made ships.

US to send Ukraine rocket systems, other aid in new package

The aid is part of the $40 billion in security and economic assistance passed last month by Congress.

Setbacks with new health records system have ‘shaken’ VA secretary

The $16 billion project has faced numerous setbacks in recent years.

More money to buy weaponry and fight inflation in House defense bill

Despite hours of sometimes intense debate, the measure advanced out of committee on a bipartisan 57-1 vote.

Troops would get $90 monthly bonuses to counter inflation in House plan

A separate plan to pay all troops at least $15 an hour failed to gain enough support among lawmakers.

Bids to weaken military COVID vaccine mandate stall in Congress

Democrats rejected proposals to reinstate troops already kicked out and dismiss the Defense Secretary for requiring the shots.

No consensus yet on military spending for next year, except for more of it

House lawmakers on Wednesday offered new and conflicting plans for defense spending next year, setting up intense congressional debate in coming months over what the right level of military funding for fiscal 2023 should be.

Pentagon committee on women in the military is back in business

The first meeting of the reconstituted Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services is scheduled for Thursday.

Plan to overhaul Army fitness test gets support from House lawmakers

Language accompanying the Senate authorization bill draft goes beyond the Army fitness test to include further examination by all of the services.

Norcross to bring back tougher ‘Buy American’ legislation that rankled allies

A group of U.S. allies is again urging key House lawmakers to oppose any proposals to tighten federal “Buy American” requirements through the annual defense authorization bill.

Rep. Rob Wittman on US Navy ship retirements and a sea-launched nuclear weapon

Two key issues have emerged this year as the most contentious for the Navy: a proposal to decommission 24 ships, and a decision to cut funding for a sea-launched tactical nuclear weapon. Congressional committees are thus far split on these issues, and the House Armed Services Committee will weigh in on Wednesday.

Ukraine

Army vet killed fighting in Ukraine: report

At least one other American citizen has died fighting for Ukraine this year.

Panel rejects plan to close Georgia military pilot training center

Run by the Air National Guard, the center in Savannah conducts air-to-air combat training missions for reservist and active-duty fighter pilots.

House seeks to establish critical munitions reserve in defense authorization

A provision in the House’s annual defense authorization bill, released on Monday, would require the Defense Department to establish a critical munitions reserve while identifying a pilot program to keep better tabs on the subcontractors involved in their production.

Bigger military housing stipends, lower commissary costs pushed to fight inflation

The moves are designed to help offset inflation costs hitting military families' finances.

Vital mineral markets ‘not functioning’ in wake of Ukraine war, says DoD industrial policy chief

The market for a broad range of critical materials vital to U.S. munitions and other defense industry products is “not functioning” due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a senior Pentagon official told Defense News in an interview this week.

This week in Congress: Defense authorization and appropriations work collides on Wednesday

Defense and veterans hearings on Capitol Hill for the week of June 20, 2020.

VA to delay electronic medical records deployment to additional sites until 2023

VA sites in Portland and Seattle were scheduled to start work with the new system later this year.

Bigger military bonuses might be on the way to help with recruiting, retention

The year 2022 was publicly dubbed the military's "most challenging recruiting year” in decades.

Transgender veterans still waiting on VA’s promise of surgery options

One year ago, department officials said they would take steps towards making gender confirmation surgeries available. They still aren't.

A-10 retirements, more Air Force F-35s in Senate defense policy bill

This could finally break a years-long impasse between the Air Force and Congress over the iconic attack plane.

Senators back $45 billion boost in defense spending for FY23

Lawmakers say the extra money will counter rising inflation and replenish stocks of munitions sent to Ukraine.

Burn Pits

Here are the veterans who will benefit from Congress’ sweeping toxic exposure bill

Veterans who served in Afghanistan, the first Gulf War, Vietnam and numerous other overseas locations could see new benefits under the plan.

US sending Ukraine new $1 billion arms package amid grinding Donbas fight

The U.S. will send Ukraine another $1 billion in weapons to fight Russia, including Harpoon anti-ship launchers for the first time from the U.S., and more ammunition for high-tech, medium-range rocket launchers, the Biden administration announced Wednesday.