Pentagon and Congress | Military Times

SecDef tells Congress to get a military budget done already

Lloyd Austin said another short-term budget extension will cause a host of problems for his department.

29 hours ago

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III meets with General Wei Fenghe, Minister of National Defense of the People's Republic of China (PRC), on the margins of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus in Siem Reap, Cambodia, Nov. 22, 2022.

US and Chinese defense chiefs meet in Cambodia

It was the second face-to-face meeting between U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Wei Fenghe in six months.

7 days ago

Veterans

VA stands by abortion policy after legal threats from state leaders

Republican state attorneys general vow to take the department to court over its decision to provide abortion access.

Congresswoman files bill to tackle military cold cases

The homicide death of Spc. Enrique Roman-Martinez in 2020 remains unsolved. His body has not yet been found.

7 days ago

Weapons shortages spark tough choices for Ukraine’s allies

Arms shortages among Ukraine’s allies are forcing difficult conversations about how to balance support concerns Russia may target them next.

8 days ago

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, right, meets with Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, Nov. 21, 2022.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin meets with Indonesian defense minister

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met his Indonesian counterpart to push stronger defense ties amid growing Chinese naval activity in the Indo-Pacific.

8 days ago

Lawmakers press DOD to restore troops’ full housing stipend

The group wants military leaders to resume paying 100% of the housing allowance formula, instead of the current 95%.

8 days ago

Ammunition boxes lay outside a destroyed school on the outskirts of a recently liberated village outskirts of Kherson, in southern Ukraine, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022.

‘Tyranny and turmoil’ in Russian invasion, US defense secretary says

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion the worst crisis in security since the end of the Second World War.

10 days ago

VA suicide prevention efforts need more focus on gun safety training

The VA Inspector General found problems with gun safety training completion and follow-through.

12 days ago

U.S. Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Calif., participates in a ceremonial swearing-in on Capitol Hill in Washington, on May 19, 2020.

Former Navy pilot’s win cements Republican control of US House

U.S. Rep. Mike Garcia, a former Navy fighter pilot, has been reelected in California in a victory that hands Republicans control of the House.

12 days ago

Lawmaker pushes plan to cap attorney fees for Camp Lejeune lawsuits

VA officials and veterans advocates have warned that many veterans may be taken advantage of by lawyers filing suits related to water contamination there.

12 days ago

McCarthy threatens to hold up key defense bill until next year

McCarthy's threat comes as Republicans and Democrats are negotiating a final, bicameral version of the bill with the aim of passing it in December.

13 days ago

Pentagon says Poland blast likely caused by Ukrainian missile

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin became the latest U.S. official to back Poland’s preliminary conclusion.

13 days ago

Sexual misconduct in JROTC programs higher than previously reported

Nearly 60 cases of sexual misconduct by instructors have been reported in the last five years.

13 days ago

Did VA’s health records problems cause two patient deaths in Ohio?

Republican lawmakers want more details on the deaths and assurances that the new VA records system won't cause more harm.

13 days ago

DoD fails audit, sees Ukraine as ‘teachable moment’ in accountability

The Pentagon racked up its fifth comprehensive audit failure.

14 days ago

White House requests $38 billion more in Ukraine aid

If Congress passes the request, it would bring the Ukraine aid total to more than $100 billion since March amid growing House Republican resistance.

2 weeks ago

Top Republican on House defense appropriations panel wins re-election

Ken Calvert's competitive election victory puts him on track to chair the defense appropriations panel next year if Republicans take the House.

2 weeks ago

VA secretary makes promise: ‘We will be vets’ best advocates’

In an exclusive interview, Denis McDonough outlined the challenges facing his department and how he hopes to fix them.

2 weeks ago

The Capitol in Washington, D.C., is seen Nov. 4, 2022.

This week in Congress: Still waiting on election results

Defense and veterans hearings on Capitol Hill for the week of Nov. 14, 2022.

2 weeks ago

Pentagon & Congress

The latest military news from the Pentagon and Congress.

Lloyd Austin said another short-term budget extension will cause a host of problems for his department.

It was the second face-to-face meeting between U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Wei Fenghe in six months.

Republican state attorneys general vow to take the department to court over its decision to provide abortion access.

The homicide death of Spc. Enrique Roman-Martinez in 2020 remains unsolved. His body has not yet been found.

Arms shortages among Ukraine’s allies are forcing difficult conversations about how to balance support concerns Russia may target them next.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met his Indonesian counterpart to push stronger defense ties amid growing Chinese naval activity in the Indo-Pacific.

The group wants military leaders to resume paying 100% of the housing allowance formula, instead of the current 95%.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion the worst crisis in security since the end of the Second World War.

The VA Inspector General found problems with gun safety training completion and follow-through.

U.S. Rep. Mike Garcia, a former Navy fighter pilot, has been reelected in California in a victory that hands Republicans control of the House.

VA officials and veterans advocates have warned that many veterans may be taken advantage of by lawyers filing suits related to water contamination there.

McCarthy's threat comes as Republicans and Democrats are negotiating a final, bicameral version of the bill with the aim of passing it in December.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin became the latest U.S. official to back Poland’s preliminary conclusion.

Nearly 60 cases of sexual misconduct by instructors have been reported in the last five years.

Republican lawmakers want more details on the deaths and assurances that the new VA records system won't cause more harm.

The Pentagon racked up its fifth comprehensive audit failure.

If Congress passes the request, it would bring the Ukraine aid total to more than $100 billion since March amid growing House Republican resistance.

Ken Calvert's competitive election victory puts him on track to chair the defense appropriations panel next year if Republicans take the House.

In an exclusive interview, Denis McDonough outlined the challenges facing his department and how he hopes to fix them.

Defense and veterans hearings on Capitol Hill for the week of Nov. 14, 2022.