Department of Defense

Lawmakers are urging the Department of Defense to eliminate restrictions on autism therapy coverage for military families using TRICARE insurance. In a June 26, 2026 letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Senators Eric Schmitt and Kirsten Gillibrand demanded changes to TRICARE's coverage policies.

President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Dell multiple times, coinciding with stock price increases, while a former White House ethics lawyer criticized presidential influence in business. Dell's stock gains are also attributed to contracts with AI data centers and a Department of Defense deal.

Stars and Stripes, a military newspaper under the Department of Defense, faces restrictions on editorial independence under the Trump administration. Pentagon officials have imposed content bans and expressed intent to eliminate 'woke distractions,' raising concerns about the paper becoming a propaganda tool.

Congress is considering reforms to military promotion regulations after the Department of Defense removed officers from promotion lists, revealing gaps in the statutory framework. The Supreme Court's Trump v. Slaughter decision does not limit Congress's Article I authority to structure military promotions before appointments, allowing reforms to address transparency and accountability. Proposals include blocking unauthorized removals and requiring congressional notification for promotion delays or dismissals.

Transgender troops who voluntarily left the U.S. military after a 2025 policy change are being released, with California proposing a bill to support those facing less than honorable discharges. U.S. Navy sailor Chase Humes, a transgender man, received an honorable discharge after choosing voluntary separation, preserving his access to benefits, while others fear uncertain futures under the new policy.

Recent changes in the Department of Defense (DoD) risk deploying weapons with undetected issues, according to a watchdog report. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) highlighted that workforce cuts at the Department of Defense's Office of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) have resulted in action officers managing more programs, including those outside their expertise areas.

The U.S. is launching a tech force program to recruit software engineers for military units to accelerate AI adoption. Ford is recalling over 741,000 vehicles due to a transmission defect that could cause rollaway risks. A federal judge denied Meta’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit alleging its platforms were designed to be addictive to children and violated privacy laws.

The US is leading the response to a Venezuela earthquake with $300 million in humanitarian aid, following two massive quakes that killed over 1,700 people and left 50,000 missing. The Trump administration pledged $150 million within 24 hours and deployed four search-and-rescue teams and military personnel.

The U.S. Department of Defense has increasingly adopted artificial intelligence to process vast military data and gain decision advantage. Initiatives like Project Maven (2017), the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (2018), and the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (2022) demonstrate AI's role in enhancing battlefield awareness, autonomous systems, and threat detection while retaining human oversight.

The article examines the removal of experienced senior military officers under Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, comparing it to the Red Army purges of 1937-1938. It argues that combat experience is a critical strategic resource and questions the impact of leadership changes on military effectiveness.

The Great American State Fair, organized by the Trump administration's Freedom 250 group, features 56 state and territory pavilions on the National Mall alongside federal departments and Trump-aligned organizations. The event is described as a Potemkin village, with austere aesthetics and elements like a Trump-branded passport replica, highlighting tensions between state pride and federal propaganda.

A gay rights activist is suing the U.S. Department of Defense to obtain a copy of its agreement with Scouting America, alleging conflicting claims about whether the organization agreed to ban transgender members. The Pentagon and Scouting America have provided differing accounts, with the latter stating its policy on transgender youth remains unchanged.

A gay rights activist is suing the Department of Defense to obtain a copy of its agreement with Scouting America, alleging conflicting claims about whether the deal bans transgender members. Scouting America states its policies welcoming transgender youth remain unchanged, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claims the agreement requires members to use 'biological sex at birth' for activities.

A Department of Defense report finds the Pentagon's research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) infrastructure is deteriorating due to diverted funds, delayed modernization projects, and systemic challenges like security clearance backlogs, limited lab funding, and a fragmented hiring process. The report highlights underutilized intellectual property and communication barriers across defense research facilities.

U.S. President Donald Trump met with defense contractors to address depleted military stockpiles, emphasizing increased production of weapons like Patriot and THAAD interceptors. The meeting initially criticized industry progress but shifted to cooperation, with agreements to boost output through companies such as Lockheed Martin and RTX Corp.

The White House requested $87.6 billion from Congress to cover Iran war costs, support for U.S. farmers, and the Ebola response. The funding includes $67 billion for the Defense Department, $11.1 billion for farmers, $1.4 billion for Ebola, and $500 million for D.C. restoration projects. Lawmakers face political challenges in approving the request due to opposition to further military action.

The White House requested $87.6 billion from Congress to cover Pentagon expenses related to the U.S. war against Iran, aid for American farmers, Ebola response in Africa, and Washington, D.C. restoration projects. The request faces political challenges as lawmakers debate military funding and unrelated priorities.

Paul Scharre and Michael Depp discussed in 2024 the integration of artificial intelligence into the nuclear chain of command, highlighting both opportunities and risks. As AI becomes more integrated into military systems by 2026, they revisited their arguments, questioning whether nuclear AI is a priority for the Department of Defense.

The Pentagon reported $29 billion in U.S. military costs for the Iran conflict, but experts estimate the true cost exceeds $200 billion. The war has caused economic strain, public disapproval of President Trump, and ongoing financial demands, with additional $80 billion requested for military operations.

Deaundra Vega quit her job to care for her husband with severe epilepsy. A Medicaid-supported training program now pays her as a personal care assistant, alleviating financial strain.

The Trump administration reverted the name of the US Indo-Pacific Command to the US Pacific Command, citing a desire to honor its legacy established in 1947. The name change, which occurred during Trump's first presidency in 2018, was reversed through an administrative order by the Department of Defense.

The US war with Iran has cost the Department of Defense approximately $40 billion, with the Pentagon requesting $80 billion in supplemental funding. President Trump claimed economic and security benefits from the conflict, but analysis highlights significant military expenditures, including over 1,000 Tomahawk missiles at $2.5 million each, and over 7,500 civilian deaths. The conflict's total cost is estimated to exceed $40 billion when including operational and repair expenses.

In 1865, Black ministers including Garrison Frazier met with General Sherman and Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton to express Black Americans' desire to serve in the Union military as a means of securing freedom. The article contrasts this historical commitment with current actions by Pete Hegseth, who has removed tributes to Black military heroes and blocked Black officers' promotions, framing it as an attack on the legacy of Black service. The text highlights the role of Black soldiers in shaping the Civil War's outcome and the ongoing efforts to erase their contributions.

The Department of Defense may be renamed the Department of War if Republicans pass the bill, with key House and Senate committees approving the change and Donald Trump eager to sign it into law. The article describes the rebranding as a shift toward increased military aggression.

The Pentagon announced the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) will revert to its former name, U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM), citing historical significance and pride. The name change, reversing a 2018 decision under President Trump, reflects no operational changes. The move aligns with broader Pentagon rebranding efforts, including a proposed legislative change to rename the Department of Defense as the Department of War.

Anthropic, an AI company, faces government restrictions on its models due to security risks while advocating for AI safety. The White House barred foreign use of its Fable 5 and Mythos models, highlighting tensions between innovation and regulation in the AI industry.

1.5 million Department of Defense workers are using the military's generative AI platform GenAI.mil daily, up from 80,000 users in December 2025. The Pentagon's chief technology officer, Emil Michael, attributed the surge to clearer AI usage guidelines and exposure to commercial AI tools, with workers leveraging the system for tasks like drafting congressional reports and reducing paperwork.

The U.S. military transitioned from fragmented data systems to commercial cloud computing under the federal government's 'Cloud First' policy, enabling faster data sharing, improved operational efficiency, and the integration of cloud technology into tactical operations. This shift consolidated infrastructure, reduced redundancy, and allowed real-time information access for deployed forces.

Virginia congressional Democrats are urging the Department of Defense to reinstate a resilience position at the Norfolk naval base. A pilot program related to this position, passed by Congress several years ago, is no longer active under the Trump administration, according to lawmakers.

Number One Observatory Circle, the official residence of the US vice president, is located on the grounds of the US Naval Observatory. Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance moved into the 9,150-square-foot historic home in 2025 with their three children, expecting a fourth child in July. The residence features amenities like a swimming pool, running track, and a recently added chicken coop, along with historical elements and reported ghost stories.

The American Diabetes Association expelled conference participants for distributing an editorial critical of Trump administration's scientific research cuts, leading to resignations. The article also mentions the Department of Defense reducing recognized religious affiliations, attributed to Trump's influence.

Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee advanced the Trump administration's proposal to rename the Department of Defense as the Department of War in the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. The panel included the name change in closed-door deliberations over the bill.

The Pentagon locked down due to an air quality issue, prompting a shelter-in-place order. The department's systems detected the issue, requiring precautionary measures until its significance is determined.

The article criticizes Pete Hegseth, described as the 'self-declared secretary of war,' for his perceived unprofessional and overly performative behavior in his military role. It highlights his public statements, such as advocating for renaming the Department of Defense to 'Department of War,' as corny and unserious, with a colleague noting his 'moral unseriousness.'

The Pentagon revised its list of recognized Christian religions, reigniting debate over whether The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon church) is classified as Christian. Utah Senators Mike Lee and John Curtis, both Latter-day Saints, challenged the exclusion, arguing the church is unequivocally Christian, while the Pentagon removed the Christian label from 20 groups including Latter-day Saints, stating the change aims to streamline chaplaincy resources without endorsing theological legitimacy.

Nancy Lacore, a retired Navy vice admiral fired by Pete Hegseth, and Mac Deford, a local attorney, advanced to a runoff election for the Democratic primary to replace Nancy Mace's congressional seat. No candidate secured over 50% of the vote, leading to a June 23 runoff. The winner would be the second Democrat in over 40 years to hold South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District.

Nancy Lacore, a retired Navy vice admiral fired by Pete Hegseth, and Mac Deford, a local attorney, advanced to a runoff in a Democratic primary to replace Rep. Nancy Mace in South Carolina's 1st Congressional District. The district has been held by Republicans for over 40 years, with Lacore emphasizing her military background and dismissal by Hegseth as campaign points.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that Camp East Montana, an immigrant detention center in Texas, wasted millions in federal funding and failed to meet safety standards. The facility, operated by the Department of Defense and ICE, faced issues including tuberculosis cases, detainee deaths, and a $1.3 billion contract that led to significant financial waste.

A Government Accountability Office report revealed that Camp East Montana, an immigrant detention center in Texas, wasted millions in federal funds and failed to meet safety standards. The facility, constructed under a $1.3 billion contract, faced tuberculosis outbreaks, detainee deaths, and inhumane conditions, prompting a lawsuit by the ACLU and criticism from congressional Democrats.

A Government Accountability Office report found that Camp East Montana, an immigrant detention center in Texas, wasted millions in federal funds and failed to meet basic detention standards. The facility, built on a military base, faced issues including tuberculosis cases, detainee deaths, and a lawsuit over inhumane conditions. A $1.3 billion contract for the site led to significant financial waste, including payments for services during periods with no detainees.