Tag: usa
58 articles
Pentagon Revises F-35 Lifecycle Costs Downward to $1.93 Trillion
The Pentagon just revised its estimate of the F-35's lifecycle costs down to $1.93 trillion, a significant drop from the previously reported $2 trillion price tag. This updated figure includes all development, procurement, operating, and sustainment costs over the jet's expected service life.
Pentagon Axes Civilian Protection Program, Faces Backlash
The Pentagon has axed its Civilian Protection Program, sparking widespread backlash, after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth deemed its rules of engagement too restrictive. The move comes despite a 2025 poll of top commanders, who largely favored preserving the program in some form.
NSA's Non-Disclosure Pacts Omit Whistleblower Protections
The NSA's nondisclosure agreements are leaving employees in the dark about their whistleblower rights, with most failing to include crucial language that would inform them of their statutory protections. This oversight could silence employees who want to speak out about wrongdoing, undermining their ability to hold the agency accountable.
Lawmakers Probe Federal Government's Hacking of Americans
Senators are demanding answers about the federal government's secretive hacking practices, and they're calling on the Government Accountability Office to shine a light on the scope, frequency, and safety measures behind these operations. They want to know how often and how extensively the government is using hacking and spyware to investigate Americans.
Pentagon Resists Congressional Scrutiny on Golden Dome Missile Shield Costs
The Pentagon is stonewalling Congressional efforts to get a handle on the hefty price tag of the Golden Dome missile shield, with the Congressional Budget Office admitting they've been shut out from crucial briefings. It's a secrecy move that's fueling a growing public spat over the program's potentially eye-watering $1.2 trillion cost.
California County Weighs Hiring Convicted Election Official Tina Peters
Shasta County's voter registrar, Clint Curtis, plans to hire convicted election official Tina Peters as an assistant registrar, sparking concerns about her influence on local elections. This move has raised eyebrows, given Peters's history of promoting unfounded claims about election integrity.
Trump Orders Navy to Reinstate Steam Catapults on Aircraft Carriers
President Trump has signed an executive order directing the Navy to bring back steam catapults for its Ford-class aircraft carriers, aiming to boost performance and reliability. This move reverses a previous decision, with the President confident that steam power will eliminate problems with the catapults.
Judge Blocks Trump Mail-In Voting Directive Again
A federal judge has once again blocked President Trump's executive order on mail-in voting, reaffirming that the executive branch has no authority to regulate elections. Judge Indira Talwani issued a second injunction, providing clarity for the millions of citizens who rely on mail voting ahead of the midterms.
Golden Dome Missile Defense Program Faces Funding Crisis
The Golden Dome missile defense program is on shaky ground, with its leader, Gen. Michael Guetlein, issuing a stark warning that its survival hinges on Congress resolving a funding crisis sparked by a White House budgeting decision. If funding isn't secured, the program could be at risk of disappearing altogether.
NIST Seeks Input on NVD Overhaul Amid AI-Driven Cybersecurity Shift
The US government's quest to modernize the National Vulnerability Database is underway, and it's seeking your input - with an October 13 deadline to share innovative ideas on how to bring this critical cybersecurity resource into the automation age. NIST wants to hear your forward-looking perspectives on how to scale the NVD and supercharge its support for automated security workflows.
Army Expands Testing Ranges to Accelerate Interceptor Development
The Army is shaking things up to speed up interceptor missile development - they're opening up five testing ranges to private industry, slashing wait times from 12-18 months to just 30 days. This move aims to get innovative defense firms, especially smaller players, quicker access to test their promising interceptors.
Marine Corps F-35 Crashes in California
A Marine Corps F-35B fighter jet crashed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California, with emergency personnel swiftly responding to the scene at 10 a.m. local time. The pilot ejected and details about their condition are still emerging.
Air Force Narrows Drone Wingman Vendors
The Air Force is pushing forward with its Collaborative Combat Aircraft development, planning to narrow down its pool of vendors from nine to as many as six next year. Over the next 10 months, the service will refine its concept and ultimately receive up to six closed conceptual designs.
Space Force Bolsters Launch Capacity with $11 Billion Contract Boost
The Space Force is supercharging its launch capacity with an $11 billion contract boost, increasing the Phase 3 Lane 1 contract ceiling to $17 billion to support a whopping 170 missions over the next decade. This massive investment is a response to growing demand for critical capabilities in space.
Private 5G Networks Expose Government to Hidden Security Risks
Government agencies and military organizations risk exposing themselves to hidden security threats if they don't adopt a zero-trust approach to their private 5G networks, leaving them vulnerable to potentially devastating attacks. Without proper security measures in place, adversaries could gain unrestricted access to sensitive information and wreak havoc.
Clayton Faces Scrutiny on Election Security Stance
Jay Clayton dodged a direct answer on whether Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election, sparking concerns about his stance on election security during his confirmation hearing for director of national intelligence. His evasive responses left senators, including Jon Ossoff, accusing him of not being honest or forthright.
Senate Bill Aims to Vetting AI Agents for Security, Trustworthiness
As AI agents become more prevalent, Sen. Mark Warner wants to ensure they're transparent, trustworthy, and accountable to the people they serve. His proposed AI AGENT Act aims to create a federal framework that promotes innovation while protecting consumers.
Congressman Targets Trump's Silicon Valley Startup Deals
Rep. James Walkinshaw is spearheading a bold initiative to modernize America's federal government, focusing on revamping the workforce, turbocharging technology, and redefining agency success. His three-pillar plan aims to bolster personnel, fortify cybersecurity, and revolutionize how agencies adopt and utilize cutting-edge tech.
Lockheed Secures $35 Billion THAAD Production Boost
Lockheed Martin is set to supercharge production of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors with a whopping $35 billion contract, quadrupling output over the next seven years. This game-changing deal is a major win for the company and a significant boost to America's defense capabilities.
US Accelerates Post-Quantum Encryption Migration with New Executive Orders
The US government is taking a giant leap towards securing its digital future with two new executive orders, accelerating the migration to post-quantum encryption and boosting support for the domestic quantum computing industry. This move is a timely and crucial step forward, as echoed by IBM CEO Arvind Krishna, who applauded the administration's proactive approach.
Congress Probes Air Force's Combat Rescue Readiness Amid HH-60W Repurposing
The Senate Armed Services Committee is raising red flags about the Air Force's combat search-and-rescue readiness, warning that recent decisions could leave them critically short-handed in a major crisis. The committee is pressing urgent questions after the Air Force cut its helicopter buys and reassigned key rescue aircraft.
Telco Exposes Customer Data in Cleartext, Ignoring Basic Security Protocols
A new hire was granted sudo-level access to a live production database on their first day, with management's casual instruction to "take a look" - and promptly uncovered customer records stored in easily accessible cleartext. This alarming lapse in security protocols left sensitive customer information, including full personal details and payment numbers, exposed and vulnerable.
Congress Scrutinizes Trump's Anthropic Export Controls
Senator Angus King expressed skepticism over the Trump administration's move to disable Anthropic's Fable 5 and Mythos 5 AI models, citing national security concerns that many cybersecurity experts have already debunked. The unusual export-control order has raised questions about its true motivations.
Pentagon Invokes Defense Production Act to Boost Munitions Output
The Pentagon is turning to the Defense Production Act to supercharge munitions production, allowing it to bring suppliers together to tackle bottlenecks and boost output. By invoking the Act, the department can facilitate collaborative agreements among suppliers that would otherwise be off-limits due to antitrust concerns.