Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona says the Pentagon’s escalating investigation into his plea to troops to refuse unlawful orders is part of an effort to silence dissent within the military.

It's not often Pentagon officials hold briefings for the press, but they are this week — although outlets that reach millions of news consumers have been denied access.

Conservative activist Laura Loomer says she's been granted credentials to join the Pentagon press corps.

Leaders at the Pentagon have significantly altered how military officials will speak with Congress after a pair of new memos issued last week.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has approved sending up to 600 military lawyers to the Justice Department to serve as temporary immigration judges, according to a memo reviewed by The Associated Press.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered National Guard troops to start carrying firearms while patrolling the streets of Washington for President Donald Trump’s law enforcement crackdown.

Mike Waltz, President Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday for his confirmation hearing.

The Pentagon will immediately begin moving as many as 1,000 openly identifying transgender service members out of the military and give others 30 days to self-identify.

Attorneys for the Department of Homeland Security say the agency didn’t violate a judge’s order detailing when people may be deported to countries other than their own because it was the Defense Department — not DHS officials — doing the deporting.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth created another Signal messaging chat that included his wife and brother where he shared similar details of a March military airstrike against Yemen’s Houthi militants that were sent in another chain with top Trump administration leaders.

Former Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot has been asked to resign following a contentious start for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's communications office.

U.S. Space Command says it's finalized options for President Donald Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile defense system and has sent its recommendations to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for his review and approval.

The Defense Department is going to offer a new round of voluntary resignations and retirements to the civilian workforce, but details are slim.

The New York Times is denouncing “intimidation tactics” by President Donald Trump against its reporters.

The Defense Department says it’s cutting 5,400 probationary workers starting next week and will put a hiring freeze in place.

Thousands of federal government employees have been shown the door in the first month of President Donald Trump’s administration.

Federal government payments for subscriptions to media outlets have become the latest target of President Donald Trump's spending hawks.

The Trump White House has issued a proclamation recognizing February as Black History Month around the same time the Defense Department issued guidance declaring “identity months dead.”.

A new memo says the Defense Department will no longer reimburse service members for travel out of state to get reproductive health care, including abortions and fertility treatments.

Suicides in the U.S. military increased in 2023, continuing a long-term trend that the Pentagon has struggled to abate.

The U.S. Defense Department says Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeted two U.S. Navy warships with multiple drones and missiles as they were traveling through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Tuesday.

A defense official says the Defense Department will appeal a military judge’s ruling that plea agreements struck by the alleged mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and two of his co-defendants are valid.

Mexico’s Defense Department claims the National Guard has killed two Colombians and wounded four others in a confrontation near the U.S. border.

According to a Pentagon audit, Boeing has overcharged the Air Force on spare parts for a major cargo plane, including marking up the price of simple lavatory soap dispensers by 8,000%.

The first U.S. troops to deploy after the 9/11 attacks are suffering from radiation exposure that the government has yet to officially recognize 23 years later.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says passage of a six-month temporary spending bill would have widespread and devastating effects on the department and the military.

The Biden administration will send about $125 million in new military aid to Ukraine.

The Defense Department will review the Medals of Honor that were given to 20 U.S. soldiers for their actions in the 1890 battle at Wounded Knee to make sure their conduct merits such an honor.

Jill Biden says allowing federal employee military spouses to work from overseas is a “national security imperative” that's long overdue.

The Pentagon confirms that a senior Defense Department official who attended last year's NATO summit in Lithuania had symptoms similar to those reported by U_S_ officials who have experienced “Havana syndrome."

The Defense Department this month found $300 million for weapons for Ukraine, even though the bill to fund the military aid is stalled in Congress.

Shortfalls in monitoring by American officials mean the U.S. cannot account for more than $1 billion in weapons and military equipment provided to Ukraine to fight invading Russian forces.

The U.S. is announcing what officials say could be the final package of military aid to Ukraine unless Congress approves supplemental funding legislation that is stalled on Capitol Hill.

The Biden administration has agreed to provide controversial cluster munitions to Ukraine that it says could help its forces penetrate Russia's defensive lines, but that many nations have pledged not to use again due to risks to civilians.

Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville says the top general in charge of U.S. Space Command told him during a meeting Wednesday that Huntsville, not Colorado Springs, Colorado, is the preferred location for its new headquarters.

President Joe Biden’s administration has stopped U.S. military bases from hosting drag shows after criticism from some Republicans.

The Defense Department and the Federal Aviation Administration have been tracking a balloon that was flying off the coast of Hawaii last week.

An old NASA satellite that studied the sun has plunged back to Earth.

An old NASA satellite is expected to fall to Earth.

Step into a U.S. military recreation hall at a base almost anywhere in the world and you’re bound to see young troops immersed in the world of online games.

Pentagon leaders have told Congress that the U.S. military must be ready for possible confrontation with China.

An independent panel says the Defense Department should implement a series of gun safety measures to reduce suicides in the force.

Australia's Defense Department will remove surveillance cameras made by Chinese Communist Party-linked companies from its buildings.

A Navy investigation is revealing how shoddy management and human error caused fuel to leak into Pearl Harbor’s tap water last year.

President Joe Biden is turning to a Cold War-era law to boost production of lithium and other minerals used to power electric vehicles.

The Defense Department is releasing a report that says mergers and consolidation among its contractors pose risks to the U.S. economy and national security.

More U.S. states desperate to defend against COVID-19 are calling on the National Guard and other military personnel to assist.

Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper claims in a lawsuit against the Defense Department that material is being improperly withheld from his use as he seeks to publish an “unvarnished and candid memoir” of his time in President Donald Trump’s Cabinet.

An independent review has concluded that the Defense Department and its top leaders acted appropriately before and during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

New Defense Department guidance says all civilian workers must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by Nov. 22.

An environmental group has released a new analysis of Defense Department records that has found the groundwater of at least nine military installations near the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland and Virginia is contaminated with high levels of toxic “forever chemicals.”.

The Pentagon says it's canceled a cloud-computing contract with Microsoft that could eventually have been worth $10 billion.

President Donald Trump's acting defense secretary during the Jan. 6 Capitol riots is defending his response to the attack.

The Biden administration says it will begin work to address the risks of flooding and soil erosion from unfinished sections of the wall on the U.S. border with Mexico.

FILE - In this Jan. 6, 2021, file photo a violent mob of Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier at the Capitol in Washington. A top official compared the recruitment effort to that undertaken by international terrorist groups trying to lure the support of servicemembers. Military leaders are intent on developing training for troops that makes clear they should not get involved with such groups. Speaking to a small number of reporters at the Pentagon, Colón-López said he is not aware of any specific coordination that has started between the Defense Department and law enforcement. And, as time goes on, he said that with more education, service members will identify and report extremist activities and comments more frequently.

Guard troops who had been waiting on buses were then rushed to the Capitol, arriving in 18 minutes, Walker said. Much of the focus at Wednesday's hearing was on communications between the National Guard and the Defense Department. Contee said Sund pleaded with Army officials to deploy National Guard troops as the rioting escalated. AdAccording to the Defense Department, Walker was called at 3 p.m. by Army officials, and was told to prepare Guard troops to deploy. Thousands of National Guard troops are still patrolling the fenced-in Capitol, and multiple committees across Congress are investigating Jan. 6.

FILE - In this Feb. 5, 2021, file photo Marine One, with President Joe Biden aboard, is seen past a member of the U.S. Air Force as it approaches Andrews Air Force Base, Md. The Air Force inspector general will do a second investigation into racial and ethnic disparities across the force, service leaders said Friday, expanding the review to include gender and additional racial categories such as Asian and American Indian. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)WASHINGTON – The Air Force inspector general will do a second investigation into racial and ethnic disparities across the force, service leaders said Friday, expanding the review to include gender and additional racial categories such as Asian and American Indian. AdActing Air Force Secretary John Roth, who ordered the latest review, said the IG will go directly to Air Force and Space Force service members for input. “The IG team has already begun to gather information contained in a wide array of previous reports, studies and various databases across the Department of the Air Force,” Roth said.

(AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)WASHINGTON – The U.S. is backing off for now on a plan to offer COVID-19 vaccinations to the 40 prisoners held at the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The plan drew some criticism after The New York Times reported that the vaccination of prisoners would start in the coming days. At the time, U.S. Southern Command said it expected to have enough vaccine for all of the approximately 1,500 personnel assigned to the detention center. AdThere have been no reported cases of coronavirus among the detention center prisoners. The U.S. opened the detention center in January 2002 to hold detainees suspected of links to al-Qaida and the Taliban.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, right, greets Deputy Secretary of Defense David Norquist as he arrives at the Pentagon, Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, in Washington. Biden is expected to win approval for others on his national security team in coming days, including Antony Blinken as secretary of state. Before heading to the Pentagon, Austin wrote on Twitter that he is especially proud to be the first Black secretary of defense. Austin retired in 2016 after serving as the first Black general to head U.S. Central Command. The House and the Senate approved the waiver Thursday, clearing the way for the Senate confirmation vote.

Security surrounds the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. Azar says he will resign at noon on Jan. 20, when President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in. TSA is also providing officers to help the Secret Service screen people along the parade route and attending Biden’s inauguration Wednesday. Pence’s call comes less than a week before President-elect Joe Biden and Harris are set to take office. President Donald Trump hasn’t reached out to Biden and has repeatedly questioned the legitimacy of Biden’s win.

Members of the National Guard walk past the Dome of the Capitol Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021. The initiation of multiple, simultaneous inquiries comes as failings in the government's preparation, coordination and response are coming into sharper focus more than a week after the riot. The Pentagon has said the Capitol Police turned down an offer for help days before the riot. At the Justice Department, the inspector general investigation will examine whether information was adequately shared by Justice to other agencies, including the Capitol Police, about the potential for violence. The Department of Homeland Security's inspector general office said it would look into the response of its component agencies, focusing in part on the Office of Intelligence and Analysis.

Following the Nov. 3 election and subsequent recounts in some states, as well as unsuccessful court challenges, the outcome is clear, they wrote, while not specifying Trump in the article. The former Pentagon chiefs warned against use of the military in any effort to change the outcome. “Efforts to involve the U.S. armed forces in resolving election disputes would take us into dangerous, unlawful and unconstitutional territory,” they wrote. Biden has complained of efforts by Trump-appointed Pentagon officials to obstruct the transition. In reversing himself, Miller cited “recent threats issued by Iranian leaders against President Trump and other U.S. government officials.” He did not elaborate, and the Pentagon did not respond to questions.

Following the Nov. 3 election and subsequent recounts in some states, as well as unsuccessful court challenges, the outcome is clear, they wrote, while not specifying Trump in the article. The former Pentagon chiefs warned against use of the military in any effort to change the outcome. “Efforts to involve the U.S. armed forces in resolving election disputes would take us into dangerous, unlawful and unconstitutional territory,” they wrote. Biden has complained of efforts by Trump-appointed Pentagon officials to obstruct the transition. In reversing himself, Miller cited “recent threats issued by Iranian leaders against President Trump and other U.S. government officials.” He did not elaborate, and the Pentagon did not respond to questions.

– President-elect Joe Biden is warning of massive damage done to the national security apparatus by the Trump administration and “roadblocks” in communication between agency officials and his transition team that could undermine Americans’ security. “Right now we just aren’t getting all the information that we need from the outgoing administration in key national security areas. Trump has implemented an “America First” foreign policy that saw the U.S. retreat from longstanding global alliances and treaties. The Trump Administration cut funding from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, withdrew from the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Accords. Trump himself has had a contentious relationship with the intelligence community, criticizing its findings that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to boost his candidacy.

– President-elect Joe Biden is warning of massive damage done to the national security apparatus by the Trump administration and “roadblocks” in communication between agency officials and his transition team that could undermine Americans’ security. “Right now we just aren’t getting all the information that we need from the outgoing administration in key national security areas. Trump has implemented an “America First” foreign policy that saw the U.S. retreat from longstanding global alliances and treaties. The Trump Administration cut funding from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, withdrew from the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Accords. Trump himself has had a contentious relationship with the intelligence community, criticizing its findings that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to boost his candidacy.

Flournoy, a politically moderate Pentagon veteran, is regarded by U.S. officials and political insiders as a top choice for President-elect Joe Bide to choose to head the Pentagon. Michele Flournoy, a politically moderate Pentagon veteran, is regarded by U.S. officials and political insiders as a top choice for the position. If confirmed, Flournoy would face a future that is expected to involve shrinking Pentagon budgets and potential military involvement in the distribution of a coronavirus vaccine. She has been outspoken on American foreign and defense policy, particularly over the past year. The Defense Department is one of three Cabinet agencies — the others being Treasury and Veterans Affairs — that have never been led by a woman.

Esper also had worked with military leaders to talk Trump out of complete troop withdrawals from Syria and Afghanistan. And top military leaders — including Milley — are counseling patience and stability. But on other policy matters, Pentagon leaders saluted and marched forward. The abrupt personnel changes this week, however, have amped up the anxiety of civilian and military staff in the five-sided building. James Anderson, who had been acting undersecretary for policy, and Joseph Kernan, who was undersecretary for intelligence, both resigned Tuesday.

President Donald Trump has fired Esper. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Monday, an unprecedented move by a president struggling to accept election defeat and angry at a Pentagon leader he believes wasn't loyal enough. I would like to thank him for his service.”In a letter to Trump, Esper referred to his efforts to keep the Pentagon apolitical -- a resistance that often angered Trump. Esper didn't thank Trump, but he also did not openly criticize the president or his policies. “President Trump’s decision to fire Secretary Esper out of spite is not just childish, it’s also reckless.”Former military leaders also weighed in.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia reversed a lower court’s dismissal of the House Democrats’ lawsuit. The appeals panel cited the House's argument that it was cut out of its “constitutionally indispensable legislative role” when Trump unilaterally moved about $8 billion to border wall construction. House Democrats sued three months after the end of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, triggered by Trump's demand for border wall funding. Another appeals court ruled in June against the transfer of money from military construction projects. Building a border wall was one of Trump's signature campaign pledges four years ago, though he promised then that Mexico would pay for the wall.

Imperial College is working on the development of a COVID-19 vaccine. The Pentagon is involved with the distribution of vaccines, but civilian health workers will be the ones giving shots. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)WASHINGTON – The federal government outlined a sweeping plan Wednesday to make vaccines for COVID-19 available for free to all Americans, even as polls show a strong undercurrent of skepticism rippling across the land. “Americans should know that the vaccine development process is being driven completely by science and the data.”That could be a tough sell. In the AP poll, 1 in 5 Americans said they would not get a coronavirus vaccine, and 31% said they were unsure.

BEIJING – China’s Defense Ministry on Sunday blasted a critical U.S. report on the country’s military ambitions, saying it is the U.S. instead that poses the biggest threat to the international order and world peace. “Rather than reflecting on itself, the U.S. issued a so-called report that made false comments about China’s normal defense and military construction," he said in the statement. “We call on the U.S. to view China’s national defense and military construction objectively and rationally, cease making false statements and related reports, and take concrete actions to safeguard the healthy development of bilateral military relations." Running to more than 150 pages, the Defense Department report examined the PLA's technical capabilities, doctrines and the ultimate aims of China's military buildup. China's military capabilities dwarf those of the island of 23 million in numerical terms, although any invasion of Taiwan would be complex and would carry major political risks, the report said.

WASHINGTON – The Defense Department is rescinding its order to shut down the military’s independent newspaper, Stars and Stripes, in the wake of a tweet late last week by President Donald Trump vowing to continue funding the paper. The House-passed version of the Pentagon's 2021 budget contains funding for the paper’s publication, but the Senate has not yet finalized a defense funding bill. The first newspaper called Stars and Stripes was very briefly produced in 1861 during the Civil War, but the paper began consistent publication during World War I. When the war was over, publication ended, only to restart in 1942 during World War II, providing wartime news written by troops specifically for troops in battle. Although the paper gets funding from the Defense Department, it is editorially independent and is delivered in print and digitally to troops all over the world.

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. Two soldiers were killed and three were injured when their Black Hawk helicopter crashed during a training exercise off Southern California's coast, the Defense Department said Saturday. Shelton has left a scar in this Regiment that will never completely heal, said Col. Andrew R. Graham, commander of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne). Both Marketta and Shelton were assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment headquartered at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He was assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and spent 18 months as an aircraft repairer in 1st Battalion, 160th SOAR (A). In 2017, he was assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and deployed to Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON The Defense Department is reviewing options to begin pulling about 10,000 troops out of Germany, as directed by President Donald Trump. But even though some may be shifted to neighboring Poland, the withdrawal will still present complex logistical challenges and will not happen fast. Trump has said he is determined to cut the number of troops in Germany from about 35,000 to 25,000. Are they going to build family housing?Most troops in Germany are assigned there, and are not on short-term deployments. The U.S. Air Force has nearly 13,000 troops in Germany, concentrated mainly at two large bases.

"People can understand what these small quad-copters are," Lord said, describing small drones that are lifted and propelled by four small rotary blades, akin to a helicopter. Lord pointed to Chinese moves to flood the market with low-cost Unmanned Aerial Systems, the military term for drones, as one reason American investors are needed to fund US-based innovation. Commercial dronesReferring to Chinese drone-manufacturer DJI, Lord said that "essentially we don't have much of a small UAS industrial base because DJI dumped so many low-price quad-copters on the market." US military commanders are constantly in search of additional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms and assets such as drones. Return on investment"We then became dependent on them both from the defense point of view and the commercial point of view," Lord said Monday.