‘Obviously classified’: Experts say Hegseth chat leaks invited danger
Former U.S. defense officials said the unsecured messaging chain could have jeopardized the operation and put American lives at risk.
Congress
White House, DOD deny that Hegseth leaked military secrets in chat app
Administration officials acknowledged that top leaders used a non-government group chat to coordinate ahead of military airstrikes in Yemen.
Top Trump officials accidentally shared war plans with media
Hegseth reportedly assured chat participants that “we are currently clean on OPSEC” despite the accidental inclusion of a journalist.
Republicans offer defense spending tips after punting on a budget
“Good luck getting DoD to adhere to this," one analyst said of lawmakers' attempts to influence defense spending.
GOP leaders warn Trump not to abandon NATO post, Pacific buildup plans
Republican leaders are concerned about rumored plans to scale back American military involvement in Europe and Japan.
Shipyards, military clinics exempted from Pentagon hiring freeze
Advocates praised defense leaders for excluding shipyard workers and other key readiness jobs from a department-wide hiring freeze.
Senate passes six-month funding bill to avoid government shutdown
The Senate passed the bill hours before a government shutdown, overcoming Democratic opposition to the measure and sending it to President Trump's desk.
Judge orders return of dismissed probationary workers at VA, DOD
Thousands of federal employees could be reinstated to their government jobs following the ruling.
Key defense policy voice for Senate Democrats won’t seek reelection
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., serves on the armed services committee and was the first-ever woman to chair the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Stopgap budget bill includes extra funds for military, VA programs
The six-month budget bill must be approved by lawmakers before Friday night to avoid a partial government shutdown.
Trump to launch new White House office focused on shipbuilding
The president said the new effort will focus on ways to "resurrect the American shipbuilding industry."
Trump berates Ukrainian president, says he’s ‘not ready for peace’
The U.S. president appeared to pull all support for Ukraine in its fight with Russia after an argumentative meeting in the Oval Office on Friday.
Senators detail desired missile defense elements for Trump’s Iron Dome
Two senators introduced a bill that would authorize $19.5 billion for fiscal 2026 to build out Trump's "Iron Dome for America."
Pentagon says small business programs not part of grant funding pause
The department does not believe SBIR and STTR programs fall within the scope of an Office of Management and Budget order to halt federal grant funding.
Trump’s pick to lead Pentagon spars with Dems at confirmation hearing
Former FOX News host Pete Hegseth billed himself as an unconventional pick to shake up Pentagon operations.
US shifts over $100M in military aid from Israel, Egypt to Lebanon
The Biden administration in its final days is trying to bolster a ceasefire agreement that it helped mediate between Israel and Hezbollah.
Money, Musk and mission creep: How Trump could shape DOD’s space drift
The path to a larger Space Force budget isn’t clear — even as Trump, who oversaw the creation of the service, prepares to take office in the coming weeks.
