Nov 18 Acting defense secretary cites risks during troop reductions By Robert Burns, Associated Press The acting defense secretary says the period of U.S. troop withdrawals from Afghanistan and Iraq in the coming weeks is "fraught with risk."… Continue reading
Nov 17 Pentagon to cut troop levels to 2,500 in Iraq, Afghanistan By Robert Burns, Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press The new plan will accelerate troop withdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan in Trump's final days in office, despite arguments from senior military officials in favor of a more methodical pullout. Continue reading
Nov 14 Watch 5:39 What role will the presidential transition play in U.S. defense strategy? By PBS NewsHour The transition from a Trump administration to a Biden administration is likely to bring changes at the Pentagon, Department of Defense, and could impact defense strategies both at home and abroad. Mark Cancian, Senior Adviser at the Center for Strategic… Continue watching
Oct 07 Marine general tests positive for COVID-19 after Pentagon meeting By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press The assistant commandant of the Marine Corps has tested positive for the coronavirus, days after he and members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff were in a Pentagon meeting with a Coast Guard leader who was infected with the virus. Continue reading
Sep 10 WATCH: Pentagon hosts 9/11 remembrance ceremony By Associated Press Americans commemorated 9/11 on Friday as a new national crisis — the coronavirus pandemic — reconfigured anniversary ceremonies and a presidential campaign carved a path through the observances. Continue reading
Sep 01 Pentagon says China planning big increase in nuclear arsenal By Robert Burns, Associated Press In a new report to Congress, the Pentagon says it expects China over the next 10 years to double its stockpile of nuclear warheads, which it says currently numbers in the "low 200s."… Continue reading
Aug 21 Pentagon says use of surveillance planes in protests was legal By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press The investigation by the Air Force inspector general found that the planes were used to gather information about crowd size, crowd flows and fires but they did not monitor individuals. Continue reading
Aug 10 Pentagon offers military airwaves for 5G wireless networks By Associated Press The Pentagon plans to free up a big chunk of its military airwaves in the U.S. for high-speed internet service, part of a broader push to get ahead of China in the deployment of 5G wireless technology. Continue reading
Jul 17 WATCH: Defense officials hold virtual town hall after Pentagon bans Confederate flag By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press The town hall meeting is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. ET. Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Army Gen. Mark Milley, the nation's top military officer, are expected to attend. Watch their remarks here. Continue reading
Jul 17 Pentagon bans Confederate flag in way to avoid Trump’s wrath By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press The Pentagon is banning displays of the Confederate flag on military installations, using a carefully worded policy that doesn’t mention the word ban or that specific flag. The policy is laid out in a memo signed by Defense Secretary Mark… Continue reading