Jun 10 WATCH: Lawmakers question Hegseth on deploying troops to LA and Pentagon spending By Lolita C. Baldor, Tara Copp, Associated Press Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been met with sharp questions and criticism by lawmakers who demanded details on his moves to deploy troops to Los Angeles. Continue reading
Jun 06 Watch 9:33 ‘We have earned our spots’: Facing Trump ban, trans troops reflect on military service By Nick Schifrin, Dan Sagalyn, Joshua Barajas Friday marks the deadline for the estimated 4,200 active-duty transgender military members to accept what the Defense Department calls "voluntary separation." Those who volunteer to leave may be eligible for separation pay while transgender troops who don’t leave voluntarily will… Continue watching
Jun 06 Pentagon watchdog investigates if Hegseth’s staff were told to delete Signal messages By Tara Copp, Associated Press Hegseth already has faced questions over the installation of an unsecured internet line in his office that bypassed the Pentagon’s security protocols and revelations that he shared details about the military strikes in multiple Signal chats. Continue reading
Jun 05 NATO chief says alliance is ‘really close’ to accepting Trump’s 5% defense investment demand By Lorne Cook, Associated Press Most U.S. allies at NATO endorse President Donald Trump’s demand and are ready to ramp up security spending even more, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Thursday. Continue reading
Jun 04 Zelenskyy wants face-to-face talks with Putin. Putin says there’s nothing to talk about after Ukraine’s attacks By Hanna Arhirova, Associated Press Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday dismissed Russia's ceasefire proposal as "an ultimatum" and renewed his call for direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to break the deadlock over the war, which has dragged on for nearly 3½ years. Continue reading
May 31 Hegseth warns Indo-Pacific allies of threat from China By Tara Copp, David Rising, Associated Press The U.S. defense secretary reassured allies in the Indo-Pacific on Saturday that they will not be left alone to face increasing military and economic pressure from China, while insisting that they also contribute more to their own defense. Continue reading
May 16 Military commanders told to identify troops for medical checks under Trump administration’s transgender ban By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press A senior defense official laid out what could be a complicated and lengthy new process aimed at fulfilling President Donald Trump’s directive to remove transgender service members from the U.S. military. Continue reading
May 15 Watch 7:19 Retired Gen. McChrystal on current Pentagon leadership and his new book ‘On Character’ By Amna Nawaz, Dan Sagalyn General Stanley McChrystal was the top commander of American and international forces in Afghanistan in 2009 when his career was cut short. McChrystal resigned after an article in Rolling Stone quoted him and his aides making candid yet disparaging remarks… Continue watching
May 14 Trans troops facing removal from U.S. military wrestle with uncertain future By Joshua Barajas Being separated from the military would mean “the closing of one chapter and the beginning of the other, but unfortunately not on my own terms,” one service member said. Continue reading
May 09 Pentagon orders military to pull library books about diversity, anti-racism, gender issues By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press It is the broadest and most detailed directive so far on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s campaign to rid the military of diversity and equity programs, policies and instructional materials. Continue reading