/tags/department-of-defense Department of Defense en-US WLRN Thu, 08 Dec 2022 16:30:00 GMT /national-politics/2022-12-08/house-passes-defense-bill-that-includes-proposal-to-combat-sexual-assault-in-military The defense bill provision could move military one step closer to historic changes that will impact how its sexual assault cases are prosecuted. On Thursday, the House passed the bill, 350-80. Thu, 08 Dec 2022 16:30:00 GMT /national-politics/2022-12-08/house-passes-defense-bill-that-includes-proposal-to-combat-sexual-assault-in-military Claudia Grisales /news/2021-08-10/the-pentagon-has-moved-toward-making-vaccines-mandatory-for-service-members "To defend this Nation, we need a healthy and ready force," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a memo to employees. Already, about 62% of active-duty service members are fully vaccinated. Tue, 10 Aug 2021 12:48:33 GMT /news/2021-08-10/the-pentagon-has-moved-toward-making-vaccines-mandatory-for-service-members James Doubek /news/2021-04-07/the-military-confronts-extremism-one-conversation-at-a-time Every unit is holding a "stand down" to talk about extremism in the ranks. But the armed forces are still grappling with fundamental questions of how to define, identify and best deal with it. Wed, 07 Apr 2021 10:28:37 GMT /news/2021-04-07/the-military-confronts-extremism-one-conversation-at-a-time Tom Bowman, Steve Walsh /news/2021-01-22/lloyd-austin-confirmed-as-secretary-of-defense-becomes-first-black-pentagon-chief Austin's near-unanimous confirmation came despite concerns raised on both sides of the aisle that he hadn't been out of uniform for the legally mandated minimum seven-year period. Fri, 22 Jan 2021 16:16:22 GMT /news/2021-01-22/lloyd-austin-confirmed-as-secretary-of-defense-becomes-first-black-pentagon-chief Brakkton Booker /news/2020-12-30/senate-gop-rushes-to-finish-defense-bill-and-avoid-showdown-on-relief-payments Democrats are blasting a plan to combine a vote on $2,000 direct payments with other demands from President Trump. The measure is entwined with an effort to override Trump's veto of the defense bill. Wed, 30 Dec 2020 20:11:45 GMT /news/2020-12-30/senate-gop-rushes-to-finish-defense-bill-and-avoid-showdown-on-relief-payments Kelsey Snell /news/national-politics/2020-12-07/biden-expected-to-nominate-gen-lloyd-austin-as-defense-secretary Austin will bring to the Pentagon decades of military experience. He would be the first African American to lead the department. Tue, 08 Dec 2020 01:42:00 GMT /news/national-politics/2020-12-07/biden-expected-to-nominate-gen-lloyd-austin-as-defense-secretary Franco Ordoñez, Carrie Johnson, Alana Wise /2020-12-03/lawmakers-barrel-ahead-on-defense-bill-plans-balking-at-trump-veto-threat President Trump threatened to veto the annual defense bill if it doesn't include a provision to end a liability shield for tech companies. Key lawmakers say it's too late for such a demand. Thu, 03 Dec 2020 12:44:25 GMT /2020-12-03/lawmakers-barrel-ahead-on-defense-bill-plans-balking-at-trump-veto-threat Claudia Grisales /2020-11-24/study-banning-transgender-troops-hurts-u-s-military The ban supports a culture of intolerance in the military, damaging troops' morale and discouraging potential recruits from joining, according to a new study published by the Palm Center. Tue, 24 Nov 2020 11:24:23 GMT /2020-11-24/study-banning-transgender-troops-hurts-u-s-military Stephanie Colombini /2020-02-13/trump-administration-diverts-3-8-billion-in-pentagon-funding-to-border-wall In a notice sent to Congress Thursday, the Pentagon said it is shifting billions from fighter jets and other weapons to help pay for a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. Thu, 13 Feb 2020 22:18:39 GMT /2020-02-13/trump-administration-diverts-3-8-billion-in-pentagon-funding-to-border-wall Brakkton Booker /2020-02-11/philippines-says-it-will-end-u-s-security-agreement In a move that could have consequences for a counterinsurgency against Islamist extremists, President Rodrigo Duterte says Manila will unilaterally scrap the deal that lets U.S. forces train there. Tue, 11 Feb 2020 10:34:00 GMT /2020-02-11/philippines-says-it-will-end-u-s-security-agreement Scott Neuman, Julie McCarthy