Breaking down Trump’s executive order mandating multiple VA reforms
The president signed an executive order Friday calling for several sweeping changes in VA operations and construction goals.
Pentagon & Congress
Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard outline FY26 budget needs this week
Defense and veterans hearings on Capitol Hill for the week of May 12, 2025.
Pentagon reviewing plans to cut troops handling migrants at Guantanamo
Officials are considering cutting troops deployed to the base by up to half, as no migrants are detained there and the program has faced legal challenges.
GOP leaders warn Trump not to abandon NATO post, Pacific buildup plans
Republican leaders are concerned about rumored plans to scale back American military involvement in Europe and Japan.
Almost 21,000 DOD employees approved to resign amid workforce cuts
The number is less than half of the 5-8% cut in civilian employees the Pentagon is pursuing.
Shipyards, military clinics exempted from Pentagon hiring freeze
Advocates praised defense leaders for excluding shipyard workers and other key readiness jobs from a department-wide hiring freeze.
Pentagon restores pages on Black MOH recipient, Japanese American unit
The Pentagon said pages honoring minority troops were mistakenly removed — but defended its efforts to cut content highlighting women and minority groups.
DOD leadership firings spark concerns over support for female officers
President Trump's administration has removed most of the military's top-ranking female leaders from their posts in recent weeks.
VA leaders announce end to all transgender-related care for vets
Department leaders promised to continue to provide necessary care to transgender veterans even after the rule changes.
Uncertainty is the only constant in the Pentagon’s budget outlook
“It’s going to be kind of a disaster,” one military official said about the lack of a full budget, which means more limits on how the Pentagon spends.
Senate passes six-month funding bill to avoid government shutdown
The Senate passed the bill hours before a government shutdown, overcoming Democratic opposition to the measure and sending it to President Trump's desk.
