Top stories
Air Force One begins commissioning flights, final step before presidential use
The service announced the delivery of the Qatari-donated aircraft to Joint Base Andrews on Friday and the kickoff of its commissioning flights.
Remains of 8 individuals who died in B-52 crash to receive post-mortem care at Delaware base
The remains will be airlifted to Dover Air Force Base for further identification confirmation and preparation for return to their families.
Latest
US military lifts Navy blockade in Strait of Hormuz after two months
President Trump said the U.S. military is mine hunting in the strait and that the passage would be fully open Friday.
Senate eyes Hegseth travel cuts without probes into Iran school bombing, boat strikes
Senate lawmakers added a provision in the NDAA that would restrict Hegseth's travel expenses until the department releases certain operational information.
US Coast Guard has seized over 225,000 pounds of cocaine in eastern Pacific
The milestone was reached over the weekend when the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bear interdicted over 7,000 pounds of cocaine in the eastern Pacific.
VA eliminates gender-identity initiatives, reclassifies LGBTQ+ care coordinators
The VA is eliminating all activity geared toward veterans’ gender identities and reclassifying its LGBTQ+ care coordinators, an internal memo says.
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Pentagon & Congress
Pentagon tells lawmakers it needs $80 billion for Iran war, other expenses: WSJ
The full cost of the conflict, which the U.S. launched alongside Israel on Feb. 28, has remained an open question on Capitol Hill.
‘Hell ship’ responsible for one of the largest single-day loss of Allied POWs discovered after more than 80 years
More than 80 years after its sinking, buried documents in both the American and Japanese archives held the key to locating the "hell ship” Hōfuku Maru.
Secret Service agent who shielded Kennedy laid to rest at Arlington in ‘full circle’ moment
Clint Hill, the Secret Service agent whose actions became a defining part of that fatal Dallas day, was laid to rest this week at Arlington.
Opinion
Troop cuts in Europe: Giving away something for nothing
It’s not too late – if Washington is intent on reducing troop levels in Europe, it can still wield this bargaining chip with Russia.
In other news
Air Force unit’s new ammo-linking machine saves $4 million a year
A new 30 mm ammunition-linking machine can save the force millions annually by repurposing rounds from retiring A-10s for use on AC-130Js.
Sailor reportedly finds dead rat in finished energy drink
The sailor said medical personnel informed him, “with the chemicals that are in Monster, that it should be OK.”
That time the Air Force proposed making a ‘gay bomb’
The Air Force once explored the idea of a chemical weapon that would make enemy soldiers sexually irresistible to one another — striking a blow to morale.
Master Chief actor condemns use of character in White House’s Iran war hype video
“I demand that the producers of this disgusting and juvenile war porn remove my voice immediately,” Steve Downes wrote in a post on X.
‘War Machine’ review: Finally, a training scenario with aliens
The sci-fi flick raises the premise: What if the final phase of U.S. Army Ranger selection suddenly involved fighting a giant alien robot?
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VIDEOS
President awards Medal of Honor to three recipients at White House
Two Marines and a soldier received the nation's highest military award for valor for actions in Vietnam and the war in Afghanistan.
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MORE STORIES
Senate eyes Hegseth travel cuts without probes into Iran school bombing, boat strikes
Senate lawmakers added a provision in the NDAA that would restrict Hegseth's travel expenses until the department releases certain operational information.
Pentagon open to Poland’s offer to host permanent U.S. base, Polish minister says
Poland has been pushing for a bigger allied presence on NATO’s eastern flank after Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine in 2022.
By Reuters
US military lifts Navy blockade in Strait of Hormuz after two months
President Trump said the U.S. military is mine hunting in the strait and that the passage would be fully open Friday.
By Riley Ceder
Republicans blast Iran agreement as details emerge
One Republican senator called the framework pact announced this week the “worst foreign policy blunder in decades.”
By Patricia Zengerle and Nathan Layne, Reuters
US Coast Guard has seized over 225,000 pounds of cocaine in eastern Pacific
The milestone was reached over the weekend when the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bear interdicted over 7,000 pounds of cocaine in the eastern Pacific.
By Riley Ceder
US Air Force awards first CCA production contracts to General Atomics, Anduril
The U.S. Air Force has cleared its first Collaborative Combat Aircraft to enter production.
VA eliminates gender-identity initiatives, reclassifies LGBTQ+ care coordinators
The VA is eliminating all activity geared toward veterans’ gender identities and reclassifying its LGBTQ+ care coordinators, an internal memo says.
Apache going down near Oman a sign of air combat evolution, analysts warn
Experts say the U.S. Army Apache that went down near Oman offers a snapshot into how air assets must now contend with cheaper, rapidly evolving drones.
By Eve Sampson
Senate committee proposes 3.6% military pay raise, rejecting White House request for more
The Senate is proposing a lower raise for troops than what was requested, but its bill sets aside additional funding for military quality-of-life programs.
By Karen Jowers
US Army fugitive arrested in Spain after decades on the run
A former U.S. Army soldier convicted of rape, desertion and indecent assualt was arrested in Spain nearly 30 years after fleeing his unit in Germany.
By Eve Sampson