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Barracks improvements, installation safety top priorities for military construction budget
The $21.5 billion budget request for military barracks would address a backlog of construction and repairs, logistics leaders said.
US special operations leaders frustrated by inability to modify their own equipment
The military must wait for manufacturers to fix or upgrade equipment, leaving them with outdated capabilities as technology evolves quickly, they said.
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Defense News is covering the evolving military, strategic, and regional implications of tensions and operations involving Iran.
Insurance Guide
Military Times has outlined helpful information about car insurance, renters insurance, and life insurance for troops.
2025 PCS Guide
Read up on tips and tricks in Military Times’ 2025 Permanent Change of Station Guide.
2025 Benefits Guide
Learn how your military benefits — including health care, retirement pay and more — have changed in 2025.
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Veterans
‘West-side Skid Row’: Pests, crime, litigation plague plans for VA’s Los Angeles campus
Pests and crime threaten VA's efforts to expand housing for homeless veterans at its sprawling west Los Angeles campus.
Iran military threat is diminished but not eliminated, CENTCOM chief says
Adm. Brad Cooper said the U.S. had severely degraded Iran’s warfighting capacity, including the elimination of roughly 90% of its inventory of naval mines.
Energy secretary: Iran ‘frighteningly close’ to nuclear weapon despite Operation Epic Fury
“They are weeks — a small number of weeks — away to enrich that to weapons-grade uranium," Energy Secretary Chris Wright told a Senate committee.
Trump’s Golden Dome missile shield estimated to cost $1.2 trillion
A national missile defense system would cost $1.2 trillion to build and maintain over the next 20 years, a nonpartisan federal agency estimated.
In other news
Coast Guard bans kratom, similar drugs immediately
Kratom is not a federally controlled substance in the U.S. and is available legally in 44 states in vape shops, other retail stores and online.
Sailor reportedly finds dead rat in finished energy drink
The sailor said medical personnel informed him, “with the chemicals that are in Monster, that it should be OK.”
That time the Air Force proposed making a ‘gay bomb’
The Air Force once explored the idea of a chemical weapon that would make enemy soldiers sexually irresistible to one another — striking a blow to morale.
Master Chief actor condemns use of character in White House’s Iran war hype video
“I demand that the producers of this disgusting and juvenile war porn remove my voice immediately,” Steve Downes wrote in a post on X.
‘War Machine’ review: Finally, a training scenario with aliens
The sci-fi flick raises the premise: What if the final phase of U.S. Army Ranger selection suddenly involved fighting a giant alien robot?
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VIDEOS
‘Deal Team Six’ enters the chat | Defense Dollars
The Pentagon looks to shake up the contracts and acquisition process and a rocket company soars on this week’s edition of Defense Dollars.
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MORE STORIES
How changes in Army training could limit troop brain injuries
Army officials plan to conduct baseline brain screenings of all soldiers by fall 2026.
Mattis feared Trump would order a surprise nuclear strike, book claims
In his new book, journalist Bob Woodward wrties that several former military leaders fear Trump returning to the White House.
Supreme Court hears arguments on veterans benefits appeals rules
The case involves how appeals panels must review denials in veteran disability cases.
New program aims to help DOD civilians in Japan get better health care
Critics have long complained about a lack of healthcare access for Defense Department civilians in Japan.
By Karen Jowers
Pentagon changes discharges for 800-plus vets kicked out for being gay
The move comes after a yearlong review of cases of troops forced to leave the services because of their sexual orientation.
Plans for multiple VA medical clinics remain stalled despite funding
More than $670 million set aside for new VA outpatient clinics in 12 states is still waiting for final plans from the White House and Congress.
Here’s what veterans will get for a cost-of-living increase next year
The boost in benefits payments is the smallest since 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
DOD rolls out child care reimbursement test program
Here's how troops might qualify for the new reimbursement of eligible transportation expenses for their child care provider.
By Karen Jowers