Politico | Defense
Trump tells European leaders US could provide security guarantees for Ukraine
14 August 2025 at 06:45

Trump tells European leaders US could provide security guarantees for Ukraine

Politico | Defense

By: By Felicia Schwartz， Jacopo Barigazzi and Esther Webber

14 August 2025 at 06:45

Still, any guarantee Trump backs is likely to fall short of what Europe and Ukraine have sought from Washington.

President Donald Trump delivers remarks during an event at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Aug. 13, 2025.

Politico | Defense
Allies, in jab at Trump, threaten not to buy F-35s
14 August 2025 at 06:15

Allies, in jab at Trump, threaten not to buy F-35s

Politico | Defense

By: By Joe Gould， Jacopo Barigazzi and Chris Lunday

14 August 2025 at 06:15

Countries are questioning their American weapons purchases, in some of their biggest pushback yet to the administration’s tariffs.

President Donald Trump stands with an F-35 at the White House during an event to showcase American-made products on July 23, 2018.

Politico | Defense
Trump will send National Guard into Washington
11 August 2025 at 22:24

Trump will send National Guard into Washington

Politico | Defense

By: By Paul McLeary and Irie Sentner

11 August 2025 at 22:24

About 800 troops will assist local law enforcement amid the president’s pledge to crack down on crime in the nation’s capital.

President Donald Trump, center, holds a press conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, August 11, 2025.

Pentagon keeps a lid on Golden Dome

Politico | Defense

By: By Joe Gould and Jack Detsch

6 August 2025 at 02:14

The department has banned officials from publicly discussing Trump’s favorite weapons project at a major missile defense conference.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks about the Golden Dome initiative in the Oval Office on May 20, 2025.

Politico | Defense
Duffy to announce nuclear reactor on the moon
5 August 2025 at 04:56

Duffy to announce nuclear reactor on the moon

Politico | Defense

By: By Sam Skove

5 August 2025 at 04:56

This is the first major agency effort by the interim NASA administrator, who is also the Transportation secretary and a former Fox News host.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who is also the interim NASA administrator, testifies during a House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure hearing on July 16, 2025.

Politico | Defense
Navy chief confirmed after Alaska senator drops last-minute block
1 August 2025 at 05:25

Navy chief confirmed after Alaska senator drops last-minute block

Politico | Defense

By: By Jack Detsch， Connor O'Brien， Joe Gould and Paul McLeary

1 August 2025 at 05:25

Dan Sullivan had planned to hold Adm. Daryl Caudle’s nomination until the Pentagon agreed to reopen a long-shuttered military base.

Rep. Dan Sullivan has said that expanding the U.S. military presence around Alaska is critical to deter Russian and Chinese incursions in the region, and he has obtained endorsements for reopening the station from some top military commanders.

Politico | Defense
MAGA is turning on Israel over Gaza, but Trump is unmoved
30 July 2025 at 07:19

MAGA is turning on Israel over Gaza, but Trump is unmoved

Politico | Defense

By: By Eric Bazail-Eimil， Connor O'Brien and Jake Traylor

30 July 2025 at 07:19

Prominent MAGA influencers have stepped up their criticism of Israel.

President Donald Trump told reporters that he doesn’t yet want to pressure Israel to come up with a longer-term solution to the conflict because “you could make the case that you’re rewarding Hamas if you do that.”

Politico | Defense
Pentagon thrown into confusion over think tank ban
29 July 2025 at 04:05

Pentagon thrown into confusion over think tank ban

Politico | Defense

By: By Jack Detsch， Paul McLeary and Felicia Schwartz

29 July 2025 at 04:05

The department’s decision not to allow employees to participate in certain events carries bigger repercussions than missed attendance.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a meeting with the Defense Ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania at the Pentagon on July 25, 2025.

Politico | Defense
Trump 2.0 Doesn’t Like Drama. So Why’s He Swallowing So Many Bad Headlines About Hegseth?
28 July 2025 at 17:56

Trump 2.0 Doesn’t Like Drama. So Why’s He Swallowing So Many Bad Headlines About Hegseth?

Politico | Defense

By: By Rachael Bade

28 July 2025 at 17:56

The White House continues to support the embattled Defense secretary — but even some Hegseth allies privately express concern that his messy management style could become his undoing.

President Donald Trump listens as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, right, speaks as they participate in a Cabinet Meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, on July 8, 2025.

Politico | Defense
‘They’re consolidating power’: Navy secretary’s staff try to undercut incoming deputy
26 July 2025 at 20:00

‘They’re consolidating power’: Navy secretary’s staff try to undercut incoming deputy

Politico | Defense

By: By Jack Detsch， Paul McLeary， Daniel Lippman and Joe Gould

26 July 2025 at 20:00

John Phelan and his chief of staff are taking control of the duties that would have gone to the future Navy undersecretary.

Navy Secretary John Phelan testifies before a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on June 10, 2025.

Politico | Defense
Pentagon suspends participation in think tank events
24 July 2025 at 23:37

Pentagon suspends participation in think tank events

Politico | Defense

By: By Jack Detsch

24 July 2025 at 23:37

The move comes a week after the Defense Department pulled out of the Aspen Security Forum due to “the evil of globalism.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attends a meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the Pentagon on July 21, 2025.

Politico | Defense
The Navy has struggled to construct ships. Now it may cut the admirals who help build them.
17 July 2025 at 04:10

The Navy has struggled to construct ships. Now it may cut the admirals who help build them.

Politico | Defense

By: By Paul McLeary and Jack Detsch

17 July 2025 at 04:10

The plan, which would gut the three-star positions atop five naval commands, is part of a Pentagon push to thin the military brass.

U.S. Navy sailors stand along the deck as they prepare for the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford to depart from the Naval Station Norfolk on June 24, 2025, in Norfolk, Virginia.

Pentagon will start using Musk’s Grok

Politico | Defense

By: By Cheyanne M. Daniels

15 July 2025 at 03:43

The partnership comes as the relationship between Trump and Musk continues to deteriorate.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth arrives for a meeting with Peru's Foreign Affairs Minister Elmer Schialer and Peru's Minister of Defense Walter Astudillo at the Pentagon, Monday, May 5, 2025, in Washington.

Politico | Defense
Pentagon probes examine key Hegseth allies
15 July 2025 at 03:40

Pentagon probes examine key Hegseth allies

Politico | Defense

By: By Daniel Lippman and Jack Detsch

15 July 2025 at 03:40

Investigators are asking about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s lawyer and a top aide as they look into the Signal app controversy.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attends a meeting with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius at the Pentagon on July 14, 2025.

Trump weighs new Ukraine aid package

Politico | Defense

By: By Paul McLeary， Jack Detsch and Eli Stokols

12 July 2025 at 02:38

The administration’s first military assistance to Ukraine would come after a controversial halt in weapons to Kyiv.

A rescue worker puts out a fire of a humanitarian aid storage site destroyed by a Russian drone strike in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine on June 14, 2025.

Politico | Defense
Appeals court lets Pentagon back out of 9/11 plea deals
12 July 2025 at 01:40

Appeals court lets Pentagon back out of 9/11 plea deals

Politico | Defense

By: By Josh Gerstein

12 July 2025 at 01:40

The plea deals would have eliminated death sentences for three alleged 9/11 plotters.

The plea deals divided victims and family members of those killed in the Sept. 11 attacks.

Politico | Defense
Rubio slams Russia over 'lack of progress' toward peace in Ukraine
10 July 2025 at 22:10

Rubio slams Russia over 'lack of progress' toward peace in Ukraine

Politico | Defense

By: By Giselle Ruhiyyih Ewing

10 July 2025 at 22:10

The meeting between Russia and the U.S.’s chief diplomats comes on the heels of a phone call between Trump and Putin.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with his Russian counterpart on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum in Malaysia on Thursday.

Politico | Defense
Why Europe doesn’t trust Trump’s latest Ukraine reversal
10 July 2025 at 07:20

Why Europe doesn’t trust Trump’s latest Ukraine reversal

Politico | Defense

By: By Paul McLeary

10 July 2025 at 07:20

US allies in Europe are worried that American support for Ukraine is fickle, and that the Trump administration will cut its troop posture on the continent.

A woman installs flags at a makeshift memorial for fallen soldiers in Kyiv.

Politico | Defense
Over 2,000 senior staff set to leave NASA under agency push
10 July 2025 at 01:14

Over 2,000 senior staff set to leave NASA under agency push

Politico | Defense

By: By Sam Skove

10 July 2025 at 01:14

The losses could endanger the administration’s plans for landing astronauts on the moon and Mars.

The losses are spread across each of NASA’s 10 regional centers, including the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and will impact everything from planning astronaut missions to the moon to sending out deep space probes.

Politico | Defense
Pentagon policy chief’s rogue decisions have irked US allies and the Trump administration
9 July 2025 at 09:47

Pentagon policy chief’s rogue decisions have irked US allies and the Trump administration

Politico | Defense

By: By Jack Detsch， Nahal Toosi， Paul McLeary and Joe Gould

9 July 2025 at 09:47

Even for an administration with a knack for moving fast and breaking things, Elbridge Colby’s moves at the Pentagon have caused frustration and friction.