Congress Eyes New Cyber and Communications Powers for the National Guard
Legislators in the House and Senate are investigating methods to expand the powers of the National Guard in cyber operations and communication resilience as they move on with the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The proposed clauses would place National Guard units at the forefront of safeguarding crucial infrastructure, enhancing systems for communication, and […]
Colonel Retaliated Against Major for Talking to Congress About Red Hill Contamination, Report Says
An Air Force colonel retaliated against an Army major for speaking out to Congress and a Department of Defense watchdog about the contamination fallout from the 2021 Red Hill fuel leak that tainted drinking water in Hawaii, a new report details. The 25-page report said that investigators substantiated an allegation that an Air Force colonel […]
Congress Questions the FAA, US Army and NTSB over Deadly Midair Collision in DC
If investigators were able to quickly find alarming data about the number of close calls in the years before the midair collision over the nation’s capital that killed 67 people in January, then aviation safety regulators should have seen the problem, the head of the National Transportation Safety Board told Congress on Thursday. NTSB Chairwoman […]
Army's Use of Soldier Food Allowances Spurs Bipartisan Inquiry from Congress
A bipartisan group of lawmakers is pressing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for answers on the Army’s handling of meal funds as questions mount over the apparent misallocation of tens of millions of dollars intended to feed soldiers. The scrutiny follows a Military.com investigation revealing that the Army cannot account for more than $151 million deducted […]
A Caucus of Military Veterans Seeks to Bridge the Political Divide in a Polarized Congress
WASHINGTON — The players in this year’s Army-Navy football game kept up a long tradition, with each side honoring the other’s school song when the contest ended. It was an acknowledgment that the future could bring moments when the opponents that day are teammates on deadlier fields. That ethos also guides a group in the […]
Do Air Shows Really Help Military Readiness and Recruiting? Congress Plans to Find Out.
Lawmakers want the secretary of defense to brief Congress on how sending military aircraft to air shows affects recruiting and readiness, as well as study the effect of bringing those planes to smaller rural communities. As part of this year’s National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, Congress has asked the next defense secretary to brief […]
Congress Bestows Highest Honor on Troops Killed in Abbey Gate Bombing, with Politics in Background
The 13 U.S. service members killed three years ago during the military withdrawal from Afghanistan were formally awarded Congress’ highest honor Tuesday in a rare bipartisan commemoration of an incident that has become a political football. Surviving family members of the Abbey Gate suicide bombing victims accepted the Congressional Gold Medal as their loved ones’ […]
Congress Honors Deceased Korean War Hero With Lying in Honor Ceremony
WASHINGTON — Congress gave one of its highest final tributes on Monday — a lying in honor ceremony at the Capitol — to Ralph Puckett Jr., who led an outnumbered company in battle during the Korean War and was the last surviving veteran of that war to receive the Medal of Honor. Puckett, who retired […]
Army Could Face Resistance from Congress as It Eyes Cuts to Education Benefits
The Army’s consideration of cuts to two of its premier education benefits is the result of at least one of those program’s runaway success and ballooning cost, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth told lawmakers Wednesday. Wormuth described the Army Credentialing Assistance Program as having “catastrophic success” due to its popularity when asked by Rep. John Carter, […]
The Army Wants Congress to Supercharge its Barracks Budget to Fix Soldiers' Poor Living Conditions
The Army is eyeing a massive increase in its funding to maintain aging barracks and build new base housing for junior troops in one of its most dramatic single budget requests to Congress in recent years. In its proposed budget, the Army is seeking a total of $2.35 billion for barracks in 2025, a major […]