Defense Department

  • The Army's budget request details a branch in transition, from both a military and financial perspective.

    February 05, 2015
  • The Army is planning a significant technical overhaul of the way its headquarters staff commands and controls the missions of soldiers in the field. As Federal News Radio's DoD Reporter Jared Serbu reports, the next time an division of soldiers goes into combat, a good chunk of them might be telecommuting.

    February 05, 2015
  • Ashton Carter, President Barack Obama's nominee to be the next Defense secretary, told senators that cost overruns and needless overhead spending 'must stop,' but so must arbitrary caps on Defense spending.

    February 05, 2015
  • By DEB RIECHMANN AP National Security Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama’s pick to run the Pentagon was grilled Wednesday by Republicans who used his confirmation hearing to criticize White House foreign policy on…

    February 05, 2015
  • Ashton Carter said there's more cost-cutting to do at the Defense Department. He promised to end cost overruns in weapons systems and create a leaner Pentagon if the Senate confirms him. Federal News Radio DoD Reporter Jared Serbu has the details.

    February 04, 2015
  • The Office of Naval Research has an update to its strategic plan and a new chief to help to put those priorities in place. Rear Adm. Mat Winter, the new chief of Naval Research, has been on the job for about four weeks. Federal News Radio's Lauren Larson spoke to the new ONR chief at the Naval Future Force Science and Technology expo. He tells her what ONR looks for when updating its strategic plan.

    February 04, 2015
  • Defense Secretary nominee Ash Carter says ending sequestration is critical for the Pentagon's long-term success. But in his nomination hearing before the Senate Armed Services committee today, he said defense spending reform is just as large a priority for him. Katherine Kidder is research associate for the Military, Veterans and Society Program at the Center for a New American Security. On In Depth with Francis Rose, she offered priorities for the next Defense Secretary's reform agenda.

    February 04, 2015
  • Defense Secretary nominee Ash Carter called on Congress to figure out a way to move on from sequestration. In his nomination hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee today, he said failure to do that will have a dangerous impact on the future of the Defense Department. Shawn Brimley is executive vice president and director of studies at the Center for a New American Security. On In Depth with Francis Rose, he outlined a strategy for the next SecDef's tenure.

    February 04, 2015
  • In their first round of congressional testimony, members of the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission cited glaring gaps between the policies and services provided by DoD and VA. Their report found that existing systems to bridge the gap are mostly a paperwork exercise.

    February 04, 2015
  • The Defense Department depends on its partners in the F-35 coalition to keep the price per copy of the aircraft down. But one of those partners may be having second thoughts and is even thinking about specific alternatives. Dave Perry is senior analyst for the Canadian Defense and Foreign Affairs Institute, and author of "Putting the Armed Back Into the Canadian Armed Forces: Improving Defence Procurement in Canada." On In Depth with Francis Rose, Dave explained the current status of the F-35 program in Canada.

    February 03, 2015
  • Defense spending would get a 7.7 percent boost in 2016 under President Obama's proposed budget. Officials say the department is still feeling the disruption of reduced spending and sequestration cuts from recent years. The 2016 proposal includes funding for a broad range of weapons systems, missile defense and a 1.3 percent raise for service members and department civilians. Lt. Gen. Dave Barno (Ret.) was a senior American commander of U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan, and is now with American University. He joined Tom Temin on the Federal Drive with more analysis.

    February 03, 2015
  • The White House defense budget request is $38 billion over the limits set by sequestration. In an attempt to balance the increased funding, the Pentagon is pursuing pay and benefits reform, and another round of BRAC.

    February 02, 2015
  • The White House budget request for fiscal 2016 is out. The Obama administration is hoping for a future without sequestration, and the Defense Department is defending that concept. On In Depth with Francis Rose, Federal News Radio's Sean McCalley breaks down the numbers behind the defense spending plan.

    February 02, 2015
  • President Obama's 2016 budget request for the Defense Department is $38 billion more than the Budget Control Act calls for. He's asking for $534 billion, but any number over $498 billion will trigger sequestration. Roger Zakheim is counsel at Covington and Burling, former general counsel and deputy staff director of the House Armed Services Committee and also former deputy assistant secretary of Defense. In Depth with Francis Rose asked him if the budget is as "dead-on-arrival" as Republicans in Congress make it sound.

    February 02, 2015
  • The Defense Department is starting a new long-range research and development initiative. It's intended to deliver technologies capable of providing the next generation of dominance on the battlefield. A similar initiative in the 1970s resulted in the creation of technology offsets like smart munitions and stealth aircraft. Stephen Welby is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Systems Engineering. On the Federal Drive with Tom Temin, he explained what separates this initiative from the department's existing R&D testing.

    February 02, 2015