Defense Budget

When Congress deliberates or passes the Defense Department budget, find appropriations for key technologies, DoD agencies, cyber and more here.

Unmanned program could suffer if Congress blocks F-22 retirements, Hunter says

The Air Force wants to retire 33 older F-22s in fiscal 2023, but Congress wants the service to keep the fighter jets and bring them to parity with newer variants.

3 days ago

Biden pick for Pentagon acquisitions role vows to cut weapons system costs

The Pentagon is struggling to control costs associated with sustaining its weapons systems. For the Lockheed Martin-made F-35 jet, sustainment costs are on track to become so expensive that the Air Force will either have to cut its planned buy or flying hours, the the Government Accountability Office found.

2 weeks ago

Artificial Intelligence

NORTHCOM wants millions more for AI and data handling

U.S. Northern Command has asked Congress for almost $30 million to buy information technology equipment and to optimize infrastructure for artificial intelligence and machine learning at its joint operations center with the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

SPACECOM requests more funding for key space domain awareness center

The $74 million request would support projects in support of the National Space Defense Center, an important command-and-control and space domain awareness capability.

4 months ago

Marine Corps wants money for ships, missiles, sensors

Money is coming, but not exactly at the level or timing that Marine leaders have wanted.

5 months ago

Space Force wants 40% budget increase as it looks to bolster space-based missile warning

The service's $24.5 billion fiscal 2022 budget request is weighted heavily in its research and development portfolio as it seeks to develop more resilient, capable architectures, particularly for space-based missile warning and tracking.

5 months ago

Pentagon wants to spend big on joint war-fighting systems

JADC2 investments are peppered throughout the budget proposal — from the services' individual projects to AI and other emerging tech.

15 months ago

After years of flat cybersecurity budgets, DoD asks for more money and cyber mission force personnel

The DoD requested $10 billion for cybersecurity and plans to add 14 cyber mission force teams over the next three years.

15 months ago

Chief of Space Operations at U.S. Space Force Gen. John Raymond speaks at a ceremony to commemorate the first birthday of the U.S. Space Force at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex on Dec. 18, 2020, in Washington.

Space Force seeks sizeable budget increase, reflecting the domain’s importance

The increase of 13 percent over last year's budget request includes the transfer of some satellite communications efforts from the U.S. Army and Navy.

15 months ago

Senate bill promises more funding for space-based hypersonic defense, but mum on details

A summary of the legislation says it will provide additional funding for the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor, but it does not say how much or clarify where that money will go.

2 years ago

Here’s what the White House wants to spend on IT

The White House's IT budget proposal increased about $4 billion over last year's request.

3 years ago

Corps looks to cut more than 2,000 active-duty Marines in 2021 budget

The changes intend to build a “more experienced, better trained, and more capable force,” the budget says.

3 years ago

Trump budget coming Feb. 10 — here’s what you can expect

The budget will arrive less than two months after FY20 funding was settled.

3 years ago

Esper points to $5 billion in ‘night court’ savings

The savings were identified following a review initiated by Defense Secretary Mark Esper in August, soon after his confirmation.

3 years ago

Independent estimate claims Space Force could cost up to $4.7B in start up costs

An independent analysis of the costs of launching and operating Space Force disputes the Department of Defense’s estimate that the new service could be launched for $2 billion over a five-year period.

3 years ago

Congress to Pentagon: Um, we asked you to buy tech faster

Espionage and open markets complicate a world where cutting-edge technology is no longer an exclusive domain of the Pentagon.

3 years ago

A classified Pentagon maritime drone program is about to get its moment in the sun

A project birthed in the Pentagon’s Strategic Capabilities Office is getting some serious buy-in from the U.S. Navy.

3 years ago

Budget for fiscal 2020 expected to be released March 12

If you track the budget, keep mid-March free.

4 years ago

Trump signs order to create US Space Command

The goal is to set up a command to oversee and organize space operations, accelerate technical advances and find more effective ways to defend U.S. assets in space.

4 years ago

The Pentagon still doesn’t know how much money it’s getting for FY20. Here’s why that matters long term.

The budget was down, then it was up. And someone has to keep track of all this.

4 years ago

A shrinking budget can’t be allowed to kill modernization

The Pentagon's can't lose sight of modernization in favor of readiness, even if it's getting less money than expected, Christopher Dougherty argues.

4 years ago

John McCain — war hero, political giant — dies at 81

John McCain, the onetime Navy pilot and longtime lawmaker, was among the best known veterans in America, and has arguably been the most influential and consistent military advocate for the Republican Party over the last three decades.

4 years ago

Delay for proposed DISA elimination clears key hurdle

A Maryland congressman is working to thwart a proposal to ax DISA.

4 years ago

What survived in the Senate’s defense policy bill?

The Senate's NDAA will be reconciled with the House's version in conference committee to determine funding for FY19

4 years ago

7 items to watch in House NDAA markup

Here are seven items to keep an eye on that might affect major changes in procurement, organizational structure or programs during the HASC NDAA markup.

4 years ago

Shanahan on cost-cutting proposal: ‘It’s not a people issue’

The issue with the Pentagon's civilian workforce isn't the people, but the old systems they've been saddled with, Shanahan said.

4 years ago

New Army acquisition chief takes on rapid buying

Defense News sat down with Bruce Jette, the new Army acquisition chief to talk about how he views recent acquisition reform, what still needs fixing and how his organization will interface with the Army's newest four-star command - the Army Futures Command.

4 years ago

Pricetag for Pentagon’s major weapon systems grows by 10 percent

The Pentagon is spending more on weapons, but largely due to increases in what they are buying.

4 years ago