Defense Bill Will “Turbocharge” Surging Military Recruiting Numbers: Senator
The $900 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026 is now law after passing both chambers of Congress and being signed Thursday by President Donald Trump, incorporating numerous policies and provisions including continued efforts to boost service member recruitment. On Dec. 10 the 3,086-page bill passed the House on a 312-112 vote (115 […]
Senators Seek to Change Bill That Allows Military to Operate Just Like Before the DC Plane Crash
Senators from both parties pushed Thursday for changes to a massive defense bill after crash investigators and victims’ families warned the legislation would undo key safety reforms stemming from a collision between an airliner and Army helicopter over Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people. The head of the National Transportation Safety Board investigating the crash, […]
Georgia’s Fort Benning Would Become Fort Moore Again Under House Bill
ATLANTA – Fort Benning in Columbus could switch back to Fort Moore under legislation passed by the Republican-led House of Representatives, a move that would reverse a highly publicized Trump administration decision. Tucked inside a sweeping defense spending bill that won approval this month, the measure would require the Georgia base to once again honor […]
Military Leaders Warn of Risks to Armed Forces' Readiness in Temporary Funding Bill
WASHINGTON — Military service leaders told senators Wednesday that passing a temporary budget that keeps defense spending largely flat will hurt readiness and efforts to modernize the armed forces. The vice chiefs of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force said that if they don’t get additional funding, they at least need the flexibility […]
Maine Senator Introduces Bill to Study Low-Level Blast Injuries on Military Personnel
U.S. Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) unveiled a bill on Tuesday that would study the impact of “repetitive low-level blast injuries” on the military and how they could impact brain health. The bill, the Precision Health Research Act, co-sponsored by King and U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) would be companion legislation to the Blast Overpressure Safety […]
After Mass Shooting, Bill Would Require Army to Use State Crisis Laws to Remove Weapons
PORTLAND, Maine — A bill that’s being introduced Monday after a mass shooting in Maine would require the Army to use state crisis intervention laws to remove the weapons of a service member who is deemed to be a serious threat to themselves or others, said U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, the bill’s sponsor. The Armed […]
Privatized Barracks Would Get Deeper Look Under House's Draft Defense Bill
As the military services flirt with the idea of privatizing more barracks to deal with deteriorating living conditions, a key House panel wants the Pentagon to study the issue more in depth. In its draft National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, released this week, the House Armed Services Committee calls on the Pentagon to deliver […]
Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Army Veteran Over Extended GI Bill Benefits
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled in favor of an Army combat veteran who sued the Department of Veterans Affairs over his eligibility for education benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill and Post 9/11 GI Bill. In a 7-2 decision, the court sided with James Rudisill, a veteran of Afghanistan and Iraq who argued […]
Barracks Habitability Standards Ordered by Recently Signed Defense Bill
The Pentagon will have to set military-wide standards for what makes barracks habitable under the defense policy bill that was signed into law late last week. Requiring minimum standards for habitability is one of several ways this year’s National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, seeks to improve barracks conditions, which have come under increasing scrutiny […]
US Military to Screen All New Recruits for Heart Conditions Under Must-Pass Annual Defense Bill
Beginning next year, the U.S. military is expected to screen all potential recruits for cardiac anomalies under a new program designed to reduce deaths at boot camp and beyond. The current version of the fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, expected to pass Congress this month, requires the Defense Department to launch a pilot program […]