
Policy
Lawmakers rip into defense secretary over flat Pentagon budget
The Pentagon is counting on one-time funds from a reconciliation bill to fund investments in shipbuilding and missile defense.
Science & Tech
Uncrewed battle groups? DARPA, admirals offer glimpses of the Navy’s robotic future
The pace of technology—and the realities of industrial capacity—are opening naval minds to the possibilities.
Policy
Meet DOGE's team inside the Defense Department
ProPublica has identified four men installed by defense contractor Elon Musk at the Pentagon—and 100 more across the federal government.
Sponsor Content
GovExec TV: Five Questions with Henry Brooks
In this episode, we sit down with Henry Brooks to discuss how agencies can accelerate mission readiness by leveraging commercial technology.

Policy
US spy chief wants intel community to move away from building its own tech
Gabbard says industry can provide more tools, citing AI systems that are already helping analysts with major tasks.
Policy
US Air Force’s nascent radar plane faces the axe
Hegseth says the E-7 Wedgetail may be discarded to fund Pentagon shift toward space-based ISR.
Sponsor Content
Optimizing Individual Health Readiness for the National Guard and Reserve
Optum Serve supports National Guard and Reserve forces, recognizing their medical readiness is vital to national security and mission readiness.

Ideas
SecDef wants to insource work—but doesn't understand why it was outsourced
The Pentagon has been hemorrhaging internal talent for years. Fixing acquisition starts by fixing that.
Threats
Comcast among firms likely hit by China's Salt Typhoon hackers, sources say
Such intrusions into the world's network infrastructure could mean the hackers have a deeper foothold than previously known.
Science & Tech
Defense One Radio, Ep. 183: The future of NATO, with retired French Gen. Philippe Lavigne
An alliance preview ahead of this year's GLOBSEC Forum and NATO's summit in The Hague.
Voices
Policy
Trump limits use of cyber rules to punish US hackers, election meddlers
A Friday executive order echoes unproven claims that cyber and surveillance authorities were politicized to target Trump and his allies.
Threats
Move faster, share things: A former NATO transformation chief previews the summit
The alliance is ‘stronger’ than it was, but strike, space, AI, and more require urgent attention.
Business
Naval drone startup HavocAI hopes to build 100-foot robot boat by year’s end
The company is on track to deliver a 42-foot uncrewed vessel this summer, says CEO Paul Lwin.
Science & Tech
Defense One Radio, Ep. 182: Defense innovation with Shield AI’s Brandon Tseng
The Navy SEAL-turned-tech entrepreneur explores industry trends and challenges ahead of this year's GLOBSEC Forum.
Ideas
The ‘buy-American’ push is backfiring
It’s time for U.S. and European policymakers to be smarter and more cooperative.
Ideas
Ukraine’s daring drone raid exposes American vulnerabilities
Will U.S. leaders learn from the new playbook, or ignore it at our peril?
Science & Tech
Air Force brings ARRW hypersonic missile program back from the dead
“Diversity imposes costs on the adversary,” one expert explained.
Policy
How budget talks will shape Marines’ amphibious fleet plans
Slow builds and yearslong maintenance struggles are hampering plans to put three amphibious ready groups at sea.
Business
Air Force says Qatar jet retrofit will cost less than $400M
Other defense officials have estimated it could be over $1 billion.
Policy
Congress would like the Army to show its work on ‘transformation’
The service hasn’t briefed lawmakers on its plans to cut programs.
Ideas