Defense &
National Security
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Defense &
National Security
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House Armed Services Democrat knocks GOP over failed funding bill |
The top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee called the Republicans’ stopgap funding fight “fanatic-on-fanatic violence,” calling out his colleagues for not being able to agree on what he said were two extreme views. |
“There’s nothing funny about it, you know, and it is serious business, but it just amuses me that, let’s just call them the extremists within the Republican Party, can’t even decide on how they want to be extreme together. I thought of it as sort of fanatic-on-fanatic violence last night,” Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) said at The Hill’s Future of Defense Summit.
House Republicans on Wednesday evening shot down their own plan to avoid a government shutdown at the end of September, voting 202-220 on a funding package known as a continuing resolution (CR) that would have extended funding at current spending levels for six months, through March 2025. The bill also included the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, legislation pushed by former President Trump that would require people to show proof of citizenship to register to vote.
“You had one group of people who were insisting that we had to have this ridiculous antivoting law and a six-month CR, and you had another group of people insisting ‘no we have to dramatically slash the budget.’ They couldn’t even get on the same page,” Smith said.
Fourteen GOP lawmakers voted against the package, including House Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers (R-Ala.). The outcome was a hit to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who had planned a vote on the same package last week but was forced to pull it off the floor after numerous Republicans voiced their opposition to the legislation.
Read the full report at TheHill.com. |
Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I’m Ellen Mitchell — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. |
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How policy will affect defense and national security now and in
the future: |
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The U.S. Navy on Wednesday released a new strategy designed to ensure the force is ready to meet the rising challenge from China by 2027, with efforts aimed at increasing recruitment and deploying advanced technology. The new strategy, called the Navigation Plan for America’s Warfighting Navy, will focus on overcoming hurdles in shipbuilding to accelerate construction and leverage new technologies to enhance the fleet. …
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Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) expressed optimism Thursday that lawmakers would soon reach a deal to extend radiation compensation for victims of U.S. nuclear weapons testing. Hawley told reporters he and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) were “getting close” to a deal. “We’ve made very significant progress, and I’m encouraged by the direction it’s heading in,” Hawley said. “I think the sticking points are relatively few.” However, … |
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit the White House next week and meet with both President Biden and Vice President Harris to discuss the state of the war against Russia. Zelensky will be at the White House on Thursday, Sept. 26, when White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said he would meet separately with Biden and Harris, who is the Democratic nominee for president. “The leaders will discuss the … |
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Something we’re watching on our beat: |
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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. will give remarks at the National POW/MIA Recognition Day Ceremony at 10 a.m.
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Something of interest to military communities: |
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Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) was named the first honorary chair of a newly created initiative to bolster support for military families. The initiative, dubbed “Do Your Part: State Leadership to Support Military Families,” was created by the National Governors Association (NGA) and the non-profit Blue Star Families.
Through the initiative, the organizations will create a guide for all 50 states on how to better support military families with “low-cost, and high-impact solutions.” Maryland was the first to sign onto the initiative. The toolkit will encourage states and organizations to collaborate in creating policies that benefit military families and advocate for changes on the state and federal levels.
“Supporting our military families is not just the right thing to do — it’s essential to our nation’s security and future,” Moore said in a statement. “By providing them with the resources and community support they need, we are ensuring that those who serve can focus on their mission, knowing that their families are taken care of.” – Filip Timotija |
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Branch out with a different read from The Hill: |
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Former President Trump is going on offense over the news that Iran sought to share information it hacked from his presidential campaign with President Biden’s campaign.
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Events in and around the defense world: |
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The Center for a New American Security will hold a virtual discussion on “Confronting the Axis of Upheaval,” with House Armed Services Committee ranking member Adam Smith (D-Wash.) and Rep. Robert Wittman (R-Va.), the panel’s vice chair, at 8:30 a.m.
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The Hudson Institute will host an online and in-person talk on “The Future of U.S. and Allied Hypersonic Missile Programs,” with Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Rep. Donald Norcross (D-N.J.), Rep. Vince Fong (R-Calif.) and former Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman Adm. James Winnefeld, among others, at 9:30 a.m.
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News we’ve flagged from other outlets: |
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Air Force Ospreys set to again deploy abroad after deadly crash, but concerns linger on mechanical issues (Military.com)
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How Israel built a modern-day Trojan horse: Exploding pagers (The New York Times)
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Israel scored a stunning blow against Hezbollah. Its path to victory is less clear. (The Wall Street Journal)
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Two key stories on The Hill right now: |
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North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R) on Thursday said he’s staying in the gubernatorial race following speculation throughout the day that he … Read more |
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Local unions within the International Brotherhood of Teamsters are putting their support behind Vice President Harris in November, despite the wider … Read more |
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Op-eds related to defense & national security submitted to The Hill: |
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