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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The military must wait for manufacturers to fix or upgrade equipment, leaving them with outdated capabilities as technology evolves quickly, they said.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.
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Military Times has outlined helpful information about car insurance, renters insurance, and life insurance for troops.
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Read up on tips and tricks in Military Times’ 2025 Permanent Change of Station Guide.
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Learn how your military benefits — including health care, retirement pay and more — have changed in 2025.
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Pentagon & Congress
China fires verbal warning shot at US over Taiwan
Any misstep over Taiwan could push the U.S. and China toward direct confrontation, Chinese leader Xi Jinping told President Donald Trump.
‘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.
In other news
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.
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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Troops, families use credit card relief at commissaries amid shutdown
In the days since a 90-day, interest-free offer for Military Star card holders at commissaries was announced, use of the cards jumped about 14%.
By Karen Jowers
DOD decides against privatizing service members’ household goods moves
Instead of privatizing the process for moving troops' household goods, Hegseth directed defense officials Wednesday to improve the DOD's legacy program.
By Karen Jowers
Troops request assistance at ‘unprecedented’ rate as shutdown persists
Due to processing time, Congress would need to act to ensure military pay Monday or earlier in order to avoid troops' checks being delayed, DFAS confirmed.
By Karen Jowers
Marines retire ‘workhorse’ Assault Amphibious Vehicle after 50 years
From the shores of Grenada to the deserts of Iraq, Assault Amphibious Vehicles shielded and carried Marines from ship to sea to shore since 1972.
Shutdown halts funding for military spouse tuition assistance program
No new requests for military spouse MyCAA financial assistance have been approved since Sept. 30.
By Karen Jowers
Military families seek out food assistance amid shutdown anxiety
"We expected an increase, but didn't quite expect this," said Dorene Ocamb, Armed Services YMCA chief brand and development officer.
By Karen Jowers
How the government shutdown is affecting troops, families
The current effects of the shutdown on installation programs and services vary from base to base.
By Karen Jowers
Financial resources for troops if the government shutdown stops pay
From banks and credit unions to the military relief societies, help will be available.
By Karen Jowers
Here’s how a government shutdown would affect VA services
Veterans' health care and benefits processing won't be affected, but other services would stop during a government shutdown.
By Karen Jowers
Senator ‘alarmed’ about barracks privatization, seeks answers from DOD
Given the Defense Department's history with family housing privatization, the Pentagon should "move cautiously," one senator said.
By Karen Jowers