Pentagon & Congress

The latest military news from the Pentagon and Congress.

Little guidance for troops, dependents who may need to end a pregnancy post-Roe

The Pentagon's current message is "business as usual."

9 hours ago

US to send Ukraine advanced NASAMS air defense weapons in $820 million package

The new aid also included ammunition drawn from U.S. stockpiles for American-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems.

5 days ago

Pentagon & Congress

Navy veteran McCain, groundbreaking Air Force general among Medal of Freedom recipients

The notable military figures were included among 17 individuals being granted the nation's highest civilian honor.

European demand for weapons grows as Russia fallout deepens

The changed security environment in Europe will yield increased demand from European allies for integrated missile defenses, early warning systems, air-to-air missiles and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms, a senior U.S. defense official said Thursday.

6 days ago

Should WWII’s last Medal of Honor recipient get a state funeral?

Hershel “Woody” Williams, awarded the nation's highest combat honor in 1945, passed away Wednesday.

7 days ago

No plans to increase abortion services at VA after Supreme Court ruling

The VA currently does not offer the procedure or counseling to patients seeking to get an abortion.

8 days ago

Abortions are rarely performed by military clinics, data shows

Military hospitals performed fewer than 100 abortions between 2016 and 2021.

8 days ago

DoD looks to protect troops, civilian employees from prosecution over new abortion laws

The Justice Department generally shields federal employees whose work might violate state laws.

8 days ago

Advocates call on veterans to serve as poll workers for upcoming elections

Officials estimate they may have 100,000 fewer poll workers than they need to conduct upcoming state and local elections.

8 days ago

Four soldiers to receive Medals of Honor for actions in Vietnam

The men will be recognized in a White House ceremony on July 5.

9 days ago

Senators vow to block VA’s hospital closure commission

Senators said the AIR Commission process has been flawed and unnecessary, despite nearly five years of effort.

9 days ago

Overdue veterans disability claims down almost a quarter in last four months

The backlog total was above 264,000 cases last fall.

10 days ago

Marine Corps, Army report disproportionate substance abuse, mental health issues

The Air Force and Coast Guard reported the lowest prevalences.

12 days ago

Major veterans toxic exposure legislation delayed again, but lawmakers insist it’s not defeat

Officials are optimistic the sweeping veterans bill will be finalized by Congress sometime next month.

13 days ago

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.

13 days ago

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.

13 days ago

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

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

13 days ago

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.

14 days ago

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.

14 days ago

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.

2 weeks ago

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.

2 weeks ago

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.

2 weeks ago

New legislation aims to give drone crews tax-free combat pay

Pilots and sensor operators in any branch of the armed forces, who work on any RPA fleet used in designated areas of conflict, would be eligible for tax-free income.

2 weeks ago

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.

2 weeks ago

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.

2 weeks ago

Army vet killed fighting in Ukraine: report

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

2 weeks ago

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

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

2 weeks ago

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.

2 weeks ago