The Latest Breaking News from Defense Department

Hill-favored projects called defense budget’s ‘black hole’

WASHINGTON -- Congress directed the Pentagon to spend $12.2 billion in the current fiscal year on nearly 1,000 different “program increases” in the Defense spending bill’s research account alone, projects pushed by lawmakers that the Defense Department did not publicly request, according to a previously unpublicized database.

Tribune News Service · May 25, 2023

Pentagon cannot account for thousands of F-35 parts, GAO says

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon can’t account for hundreds of thousands of spare parts worth millions of dollars that are stored worldwide for the U.S. and allies that use its costliest weapon, the F-35 jet, according to congressional auditors.

Tribune News Service · May 24, 2023

Hill-favored projects called defense budget's 'black hole' - Roll Call

Member-driven increases to research projects within the Pentagon's budget have surged, with little scrutiny.

Roll Call · May 23, 2023

Pentagon comes out against law requiring military wish lists - Roll Call

The Defense Department says it backs ending “unfunded priorities lists” — annual requests for spending above the president's budget requests.

Roll Call · Mar 28, 2023

In military academies, 1 in 5 female students said they experienced sexual assault

An anonymous survey conducted by the Defense Department showed that despite prevention efforts, cases of sexual assault and harassment are growing among men and women in military academies.

WEKU · Mar 12, 2023

3M subsidiary claims many military plaintiffs in earplug case did not suffer hearing loss

A 3M subsidiary claims that U.S. Defense Department records show that over 175,00 military members who allege the Maplewood-based company's earplugs were defective have normal hearing under key medical standards.

Tribune News Service · Mar 1, 2023

Congress turns attention to oversight of Ukraine aid - Roll Call

House and Senate defense and spending panels will hold the first open hearings on Ukraine aid oversight since the war’s start.

Roll Call · Feb 27, 2023

Panel: Miliary needs gun safety measures to limit suicides

An independent panel says the Defense Department should implement a series of gun safety measures to reduce suicides in the force

The Independent UK · Feb 24, 2023

How much money has the US given Ukraine since Russia’s invasion?

Since February 2022, the United States has allocated $113.4 billion in emergency funding to support Ukraine in wartime.

USAFacts · Feb 24, 2023

Federal workers oppose proposed Pentagon civilian workforce cut

WASHINGTON —The federal workers union came out swinging Thursday against a Republican proposal to reduce the size of the Pentagon’s civilian workforce.

Tribune News Service · Feb 24, 2023