Defense Department dumps travel policy for troops seeking abortions
Defense leaders had provided travel stipends to troops who needed to cross state lines to seek abortion counseling.
Pentagon & Congress
Trump blames DEI, Army pilot error for deadly Black Hawk collision
Without evidence, Trump blamed air traffic controllers, the helicopter pilots and Democratic policies at federal agencies for Wednesday night's collision.
Army Secretary pick says pay boost isn’t enough to fix recruiting woes
Increasing pay and benefits alone won't be enough to attract young people to the service, Army Secertary nominee Daniel Driscoll said.
VA leaders dismiss directors of offices for women, minority veterans
Officials said the staff changes are not part of larger efforts to eliminate diversity and inclusion programs from the department.
Pentagon agency halts MLK Day, Black History Month, other celebrations
The Defense Intelligence Agency's pause comes in response to President Trump’s ban on diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the federal workplace.
Hegseth moves to ban race, sex consideration from military promotions
A new Defense Department task force will look for ways to further limit diversity and inclusion programs throughout military training and advancement.
Federal military spouse workers ‘should’ be able to continue remotely
"We're trying to calm a whole community," said one military spouse advocate who's looking for answers.
All of DOD exempt from White House’s civilian hiring freeze
Hiring for vacant positions in commissaries, child care centers, schools and everywhere else within DOD can continue, two memorandums show.
Hegseth strips Milley of security detail, orders investigation
The former Joint Chiefs chairman had warned that Trump may seek revenge against him and other critics if re-elected to the White House.
VA benefits won’t be halted under White House funding freeze order
White House officials said VA financial assistance programs do not violate rules banning diversity and inclusion efforts.
In Trump’s Pentagon, a growing skepticism about US military power
The new cadre of national security officials is highly confident, highly online and scornful of Washington’s foreign policy consensus.
Trump signs order to revise Pentagon’s policy on transgender troops
Trump on Monday also ordered troops to be reinstated who had left voluntarily or been booted for refusing COVID-19 vaccines, among other changes.
Tricare lets patients bypass TriWest problems slowing specialty care
A temporary waiver allows beneficiaries to take their referral from a primary care manager directly to a specialist without waiting for approval.
VA, DOD oversight questioned after Trump inspector general firings
The top watchdogs for the Defense Department and Department of Veterans Affairs were among the individuals dismissed by Trump.
Air Force reinstates course with Tuskegee Airmen video after outcry
The Air Force pulled the course for review last week following the Trump administration's sweeping order barring diversity programs.
No schedule yet for service secretary confirmation hearings
Defense and veterans hearings on Capitol Hill for the week of Jan. 27, 2025.
Hegseth confirmed as next defense secretary by narrow Senate vote
Hegseth's confirmation vote was the narrowest ever for a defense secretary nominee.
