Defense Department

Migrants trudge along the border fence to a waiting bus after turning themselves in to the Border Patrol at the U.S.-Mexico border near El Paso, Texas.

National

A Surge Of Migrants Strains Border Patrol As El Paso Becomes Latest Hot Spot

10:24am March 26, 2019

by John Burnett

The Border Patrol is bringing in more agents and asking the Pentagon for help as thousands of migrants continue to cross the U.S.-Mexico border each day.

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A Pakistani immigrant U.S. Army recruit, seen last year. A judge ruled this week that the Pentagon may not require soldiers who are naturalized citizens to undergo "continuous monitoring."

National

Judge Orders Pentagon To Stop Discriminating Against Naturalized Citizen Soldiers

5:00am February 02, 2019

by Richard Gonzales

A federal judge says the Pentagon has provided no justification for profiling immigrant recruits who became U.S. citizens.

Vice President Pence announces the Trump Administration's plan to create the U.S. Space Force by 2020 during a speech at the Pentagon on Thursday.

White House Describes Military 'Space Force,' Aims To Create It By 2020

4:15pm August 09, 2018

by Camila Domonoske

Vice President Pence said in a speech Thursday that the Space Force, which would be the military's sixth branch, will "prepare for the next battlefield" and "a new generation of threats."

Modern tools of biology could allow someone to recreate a dangerous virus, such as smallpox, from scratch.

Report For Defense Department Ranks Top Threats From 'Synthetic Biology'

4:44pm June 19, 2018

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

A committee of experts examined about a dozen different synthetic biology technologies that could be potentially misused. For each, they considered how likely it was to be usable as a weapon.

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The USS Carl Vinson transits the Philippine Sea while conducting a bilateral exercise with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force last April in the Philippine Sea.

In Military Name Change, U.S. Pacific Command Becomes U.S. Indo-Pacific Command

8:45am May 31, 2018

by Scott Neuman

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, speaking in Hawaii, said the largely symbolic change comes "[in] recognition of the increasing connectivity between the Indian and Pacific Oceans."

World News

Pentagon Report: Cascade Of Errors Led To Niger Ambush, Deaths Of 4 Americans

11:35pm April 25, 2018

by Tom Bowman

The classified report sent to Congress, says the special forces team was retasked from a simple mission to a more dangerous one for which it was not equipped or trained — without notifying higher-ups.

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In this frame from a video, a member of the National Guard watches over Rio Grande River on the border in Roma, Texas, on Tuesday. The deployment of National Guard members to the U.S.-Mexico border at President Trump's request was underway Tuesday with a

National

California Deploys National Guard; Troops Already At Texas, Arizona Borders

7:46pm April 11, 2018

Gov. Jerry Brown said he will deploy 400 National Guard troops, but they will not enforce immigration laws. Meanwhile, Texas troops have already made their way to the border near Laredo.

Afghan National Army soldiers stand guard in March 2016 in Baghlan province, Afghanistan.

Botched Choice For Afghan Army Uniforms Wasted Tens Of Millions Of U.S. Dollars

3:35pm June 21, 2017

by Merrit Kennedy

AU.S. government watchdog says the Defense Department procured uniforms in a camouflage pattern that is far more expensive than other options and likely inappropriate for the landscape in Afghanistan.

A floor of office space in Trump Tower, where President Trump lives with his family in a penthouse apartment, can rent for as much as $1.5 million a year.

Defense Department Renting At Trump Tower Is Another Step Into Ethical Murk

1:41am February 09, 2017

by Jim Zarroli

The Department of Defense needs space for its people and equipment whenever Trump goes home to his Manhattan penthouse. The move has precedent, but likely will be far costlier than previous rentals.

This February 2012 shows the U.S. guided-missile destroyer Lassen. The U.S. Navy is sending the warship within 12 nautical miles (around 22 kilometers) of islands artificially created by China in the South China Sea.

U.S. Destroyer Nears Disputed Islands In South China Sea

9:12pm October 26, 2015

by Laura Wagner

A Defense Department official confirmed that the Navy operation to patrol near the Spratly islands is underway. China has claimed control but the U.S. says the area is in international waters.