Pentagon releases footage of hundreds of 'highly concerning' aircraft intercepts by Chinese planes
The Pentagon has released footage of some of the more than 180 intercepts of U.S. warplanes by Chinese aircraft that have occurred in the last two years โ more than the total amount over the previous decade and part of a trend U.S. military officials called concerning.
House committee chairman says Sen. Tuberville is 'paralyzing' the Pentagon by blocking promotions
The chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee is slamming a fellow Republican in the Senate for waging an unprecedented attempt to change Pentagon abortion policy by holding up hundreds of military nominations and promotions.
Pentagon: Deadly Afghan airport attack was not preventable
The military investigation into the deadly attack during the Afghanistan evacuation has concluded that a suicide bomber, carrying 20 pounds of explosives packed with ball bearings, acted alone, and that the deaths of more than 170 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members were not preventable.
US airstrike targets Islamic State member in Afghanistan
The United States military struck back at the Islamic State in Afghanistan on Saturday, acting on President Joe Biden's vow to hit the extremists in retaliation for a suicide bombing claimed by IS that killed as many as 169 Afghans and 13 American service members at Kabul airport Thursday.
US blacklists Xiaomi, CNOOC, Skyrizon, raising heat on China
The Department of Defense added nine companies to its list of Chinese companies with military links, including Xiaomi and state-owned plane manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (Comac). U.S. investors will have to divest their stakes in Chinese companies on the military list by November this year, according to an executive order signed by Trump last November. Xiaomi said in a statement that its products are for โcivilian and commercial use" and said it is not owned, controlled or affiliated with the Chinese military. Xiaomi Corp. overtook Apple Inc. as the worldโs No. โCNOOC acts as a bully for the Peopleโs Liberation Army to intimidate Chinaโs neighbors, and the Chinese military continues to benefit from government civil-military fusion policies for malign purposes,โ Ross said.
WATCH: Officials to update on Operation Warp Speed, COVID-19 vaccine distribution
WASHINGTON โ The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as well as Department of Defense officials provided an update on Operation Warp Speed and COVID-19 vaccine distribution efforts on Wednesday. The briefing was scheduled for 12:00 p.m
Biden transition team criticizes cooperation from Pentagon
FILE - This March 27, 2008 file photo shows the Pentagon in Washington. โ President-elect Joe Biden's transition team expressed frustration Friday with the level of cooperation they're getting from political appointees at the Department of Defense, saying there has been โan abrupt halt in the already limited cooperation there." Yohannes Abraham, executive director of the transition, told reporters that Biden agency review teams at DOD learned Thursday of meetings โbeing pulled down" and immediately reported it. Abraham made it clear that Biden's transition team was not satisfied with that decision. โThere have been many agencies and departments that have facilitated the exchange of info and meetings over the past few weeks,โ Abraham said.
Biden transition team criticizes cooperation from Pentagon
FILE - This March 27, 2008 file photo shows the Pentagon in Washington. โ President-elect Joe Biden's transition team expressed frustration Friday with the level of cooperation they're getting from political appointees at the Department of Defense, saying there has been โan abrupt halt in the already limited cooperation there." Yohannes Abraham, executive director of the transition, told reporters that Biden agency review teams at DOD learned Thursday of meetings โbeing pulled down" and immediately reported it. Abraham made it clear that Biden's transition team was not satisfied with that decision. โThere have been many agencies and departments that have facilitated the exchange of info and meetings over the past few weeks,โ Abraham said.
WATCH: White House holds celebration to mark Space Forceโs first anniversary
Chief Master Sgt. Roger Towberman (R), Space Force and Command Senior Enlisted Leader and CMSgt Roger Towberman (L), with Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett present US President Donald Trump with the official flag of the United States Space Force in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on May 15, 2020. (Photo by Samuel Corum-Pool/Getty Images)Vice President Pence is hosting an event with senior leadership of the Department of Defense, the U.S Air Force and the U.S. Space Force to commemorate the first birthday of the USSF as the sixth branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. The celebration is happening at the White House and is expected to begin at 4 p.m.
WATCH: President-elect Joe Biden, VP-elect Kamala Harris to announce Secretary of Defense nominee
WILMINGTON, De. โ President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris introduced retired General Lloyd Austin as their nominee for Secretary of Defense. Austinโs military service includes leading troops in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as overseeing U.S. military operations throughout the greater Middle East as head of Central Command. Austin would be the first Black leader of the Pentagon.
Movement for Black Lives seeks sweeping legislative changes
Proposed federal legislation that would radically transform the nation's criminal justice system through such changes as eliminating agencies like the Drug Enforcement Administration and the use of federal surveillance technology is set to be unveiled Tuesday, July 7, by the Movement for Black Lives. Dubbed the BREATHE Act, the legislation is the culmination of a project led by the policy table of the Movement for Black Lives, a coalition of more than 150 organizations. The proposed changes are sweeping and likely to receive robust pushback from lawmakers who perceive the legislation as too radical. The polling found that the majority of Americans say the criminal justice system needs major changes, including many saying it needs a complete overhaul. We are a generation that wants to make sure that the needs of all Black people are met, Cullors said.
Watchdogs: Trump's Independence Day gala in 2019 cost $13M
All rights reserved)Government watchdogs say President Trumps Fourth of July gala in the nations capital last year cost taxpayers more than $13 million, twice as much as previous celebrations. Trumps desire to have Department of Defense military vehicles participate helped drive up the cost, according to the Government Accountability Office. Some other costs, such as for military flyovers of the National Mall, were not included in the estimate, the report said. Trumps military-focused Independence Day event went beyond the traditional concert and fireworks of years past. The GAO estimated that holiday celebrations from 2016 to 2018 cost from $6 million to $7 million annually.
Amazon may fight government cloud decision in court
One analyst said he "fully expects" Amazon to try to fight the decision in court. The contentious decision represents a major loss for Amazon and a boon to Microsoft, especially as both companies have seen the growth of their cloud businesses slow in recent months. The timing is especially painful for Amazon, which said it was surprised by the decision, calling itself the "clear leader in cloud computing." At the same time Amazon is funneling money into speeding up its shipping capabilities, growth at its cloud services division, Amazon Web Services, is slowing. In 2013, it received a breakthrough $600 million contract to provide cloud services to the CIA.
Pentagon official overseeing Ukraine to testify in impeachment inquiry
Alex Wong/Getty Images(CNN) - A top Pentagon career official overseeing Ukraine policy is due to testify before the House impeachment inquiry on Wednesday, an appearance that takes place amid intense scrutiny over whether the White House sought to freeze military aid to Ukraine as part of an effort to pressure Kiev to investigate President Donald Trump's political rivals. Cooper is currently believed to be voluntarily appearing before the three House committees leading the Democratic impeachment inquiry and the Pentagon has not yet sought to block her testimony. As a top official overseeing US policy towards Ukraine, Cooper would have been involved with overseeing US military assistance to Kiev, assistance such as the $250 million aid package that was frozen by the Trump Administration despite the Pentagon's recommendation that it go forward. What motivated the White House to order that freeze has formed a central part of the impeachment inquiry into Trump. Earlier this month, the Pentagon's chief legal officer requested that Defense Department agencies identify, preserve and collect any and all documents relating to the provision of security assistance to Kiev.
Pentagon halts plans to build extra 20 miles of border wall
CNN(CNN) - The Defense Department has decided not to proceed with three border wall projects in California and Arizona, citing "insufficient contract savings," according to a court filing. "Therefore, the Department of Defense has decided not to pursue Yuma Sector Projects 4 and 5, and Tucson Sector Project 4 at this time." The President's decision to tap into Pentagon funds for his wall has been legally challenged by the Democratic-controlled House and advocacy groups. The administration is using funds appropriated for the wall, as well as Defense Department funds, to fulfill the President's pledge to erect new barriers along the southern border. As of August 23, the administration has updated roughly 60 miles of wall on the US-Mexico border, according to Customs and Border Protection and the Army Corps.
US service member killed in Afghanistan
Andy Dunaway/USAF via Getty Images(CNN) - A US service member was killed in combat in Afghanistan on Thursday, NATO-led international military coalition in Kabul said. The announcement did not specify where the operation took place, the service branch of the fallen service member, nor details about the combat operation. The US currently has about 14,000 service members in Afghanistan, alongside NATO troops, helping to train and advise Afghan troops and conducting counterterrorism operations. On Wednesday, the top US general said he is "not using the 'withdraw' word right now" in regards to Afghanistan, as US and Taliban negotiators reportedly near a deal. "I think it's premature, I'm not using the 'withdraw' word right now," he said.
Supreme Court allows use of Pentagon money for border wall
Copyright 2019 CNNThe Supreme Court cleared the way for the Trump administration to use $2.5 billion from the Department of Defense to construct parts of a wall along the southwestern border that the government argues is necessary to protect national security. The Supreme Court's order is a significant win for President Donald Trump, who is likely to use the construction of a wall as a major talking point on the campaign trail. This is a breaking story and will be updated. Distributed by LAKANA. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Pentagon to look into past tick research
The most common disease spread by ticks is Lyme disease, which can cause multiple symptoms including fever, muscle aches, joint pain, rash and facial paralysis. Each year, nearly 30,000 cases of Lyme Disease are reported to the CDC, which also says that more than 300,000 people are diagnosed with the disease each year. In 2017, a total of 42,743 confirmed and probable cases of Lyme Disease were reported to the CDC, 17% more than in 2016, according to the agency. During the amendment's debate, Smith said Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases were "exploding" in the US and that "Americans have a right to know whether any of this is true." According to his website, Smith has also authored the TICK Act, which would create a holistic government strategy to fight Lyme disease and authorize $180 million to boost funding for research, prevention and treatment of the disease.