Pentagon Will Use Health Screenings, Commanders to Ferret Out Trans Troops for Separations
Military.com
The Defense Department said May 15 it will lean on commanders and existing medical screenings to find any service members whom it wants to discharge over the Trump administration’s ban on transgender people serving in the military.
Army Halves Spy Plane Fleet Before First Takeoff
Defense News
The U.S. Army is planning to buy half the spy planes it had previously planned to procure, according to an executive order outlining initial plans of an Army secretary-directed transformation initiative.
Space Force, Governors at Odds Over Plans to Pull Talent from National Guard Units
The Associated Press
The head of the U.S. Space Force is moving ahead with plans to pull talent from Air National Guard units to help build up the still new military service—but several governors remain opposed and argue it tramples on their rights to retain control over their state units.
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Russian Fighter Plane Breaches Estonian Airspace Amid Drill by NATO Countries
Stars and Stripes
A Russian warplane violated Estonian airspace this week, prompting NATO to scramble its air policing fighters in response, defense officials from the Baltic country said. The incident involving a Su-35 fighter occurred as U.S. and allied troops carry out large-scale military drills in Estonia.
Military Moves, School Enrollment and Spouse Employment Were Upended by Tuberville Promotions Blockade
Military.com
Military families saw parts of their lives upended during the 10-month blockade on senior officer promotions in 2023 caused by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., a government watchdog confirmed in a report released May 15.
DHS Seeks Over 20,000 National Guard Troops for Immigration Enforcement
The Wall Street Journal
The Department of Homeland Security asked the Pentagon to provide roughly 20,000 National Guardsmen to secure the border, two U.S. defense officials said, a potential major escalation of the Trump administration’s use of the military in its immigration crackdown.
Space Force Still Weighing Cost, Operational Advantages of Satellite Refueling Tech
DefenseScoop
While the Space Force prepares for upcoming experiments to test in-space refueling capabilities, the service is concurrently analyzing whether or not the technology offers better advantages than putting inexpensive, expendable satellites on orbit.
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Defense Intel Chiefs Expect Challenges Amid Personnel Cuts, New Border Missions
Inside Defense
Top U.S. defense intelligence officials told House lawmakers May 15 that they expect to be impacted by the 5 percent to 8 percent civilian personnel cut mandated by the Trump administration amid the stress of a new mission to help seal the southern border from the flow of illegal migrants, but they struck chords of optimism, pledging to do more with less.
Space Force Testing Space-Based Sensors to Track Airborne Targets
Breaking Defense
The Space Force is collaborating with the Air Force and U.S. Northern Command to demonstrate space-based sensors for tracking airborne targets, with an eye to seeing if that capability could work with Air Moving Target Indicator (AMTI) systems currently carried by crewed aircraft, a senior Space Force official said May 15.
Price Tag for Trump’s Military Festival Could Reach $45 Million
The Washington Post
A massive military parade and festivities planned in Washington next month will cost an estimated $25 million to $45 million and will involve dozens of warplanes, hundreds of Army vehicles and thousands of soldiers from across the country sleeping in downtown government office buildings, an Army spokesperson said May 15.
As Peru Seeks New Fighter Jets, Global Firms Jockey for Position
Breaking Defense
When a high-profile delegation of Peruvian government officials, including the minister of defense, made a visit to their counterparts in Washington, DC, last week, they added another stop to the trip to see a Lockheed Martin facility. Peru is in the market for a new fleet of fighter jets, and international firms have been jockeying to win the contract
Army Explores Ultra-Long-Range Launched Effects to Spy from the Sky
Defense News
The U.S. Army is pursuing concepts to deploy ultra-long-range effects to surveil deep in the battlespace, according to the service’s Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Task Force director.
Parents of ‘Brandon Act’ Sailor Ask to Meet with Hegseth About Military Suicides
Task & Purpose
The mother of the sailor who inspired a law that overhauled mental health access in the military says she wants to sit down with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to discuss military suicides.
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US Army Leader: Aviation Cuts Hurt, But Are Necessary
Aviation Week
The U.S. Army’s broad restructuring of its aviation component will be painful as many units will be inactivated, but that pain is needed now to transform the service, a top officer argues.
Homeland Security Looks to Buy a New $50M Jet for Secretary and Coast Guard Officials
The Associated Press
The Department of Homeland Security wants to spend about $50 million to buy a new long-range Gulfstream jet to replace an aging one used by Secretary Kristi Noem and top Coast Guard and DHS officials.
One More Thing
One Trillion Dollars?! Nine Charts to Help Demystify the Pentagon’s Budget
The War Horse
The War Horse consulted with 10 experts and insiders—from congressional aides and budget researchers to former DOD money stewards and think-tank defense analysts across the political spectrum. We asked them to help us demystify the Pentagon budget so every American taxpayer can feel empowered to start following the billions.
