Pentagon

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Congress Looks Into Report Hegseth Issued Kill Order

House, Senate panels pledge oversight of military operations in Caribbean

(Newser) - House and Senate committees have launched inquiries in response to reporting that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered that everyone on a vessel the US says was smuggling drugs in the Caribbean be killed . Hegseth gave the spoken command after two people appeared to have survived the initial US strike in...

After Boat Attack, 2 Survivors Were Blown Out of Water: WaPo

Source says DOD chief Hegseth gave order to 'kill everybody' in first boat strike in early September

(Newser) - A new report reveals that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth allegedly gave a chilling order during the Trump administration's first military strike on a suspected drug-smuggling boat in the Caribbean. "The order was to kill everybody," a source said to be familiar with the operation tells the Washington ...

FBI Asks to Interview 6 Lawmakers Over Video

Democrats reminded troops that they have a duty to refuse illegal orders

(Newser) - The FBI has asked to interview six Democratic lawmakers who told military personnel that they must refuse illegal orders. The lawmakers confirmed the FBI request to the Washington Post on Tuesday. The FBI request to schedule interviews comes after the Pentagon threatened to recall Sen. Mark Kelly to active duty,...

Mark Kelly: Hegseth's Threat 'Almost Comical'

Democratic senator says the court-martial possibility makes no sense

(Newser) - Sen. Mark Kelly continues to push back after the Pentagon launched an investigation that could see the Arizona Democrat, a retired Navy captain, hauled back to active duty and court-martialed. "The whole thing is almost comical," the Arizona Democrat told Rachel Maddow on MSNBC, reports USA Today . "...

Pentagon Moves to End Partnership With Scouts

Defense secretary cites DEI initiatives in draft memo to Congress

(Newser) - The Pentagon is reportedly preparing to end a century-old partnership with Scouting America, formerly known as the Boy Scouts, according to documents reviewed by NPR . Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has drafted a memo to Congress criticizing the organization as "genderless," claiming it no longer supports "the future...

Kelly Responds to Pentagon's Court-Martial Threat

Senator says he won't be 'silenced by bullies'

(Newser) - Sen. Mark Kelly is pushing back against the Pentagon's threat of a possible court-martial . In a post on X , Kelly, a retired Navy captain and former astronaut, said he learned of the investigation via social media and dismissed it as an attempt to intimidate lawmakers.
  • "When I was
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Pentagon Investigates Mark Kelly Over Video to Troops

Former Navy pilot and astronaut could face court-martial

(Newser) - President Trump warned that Democratic lawmakers who posted a video calling for US troops to refuse unlawful orders faced "serious trouble." Now, the Pentagon says it is investigating one of them, Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, for possible breaches of military law, per the AP . The Pentagon statement...

Report Puts Trump's DOD Rebrand Cost at $2B

Changes to signage, letterhead alone could cost $1B, congressional sources tell NBC

(Newser) - President Trump's push to rename the Department of Defense as the Department of War could cost taxpayers up to $2 billion, NBC News reports, citing sources familiar with the matter. The proposed change, which still requires congressional approval, would trigger a sweeping overhaul of signage, letterhead, digital systems, and...

Report: Laura Loomer Gets Pentagon Access

Pentagon admits far-right activist as mainstream media exits en masse, source tells WaPo

(Newser) - A source tells the Washington Post far-right activist and online personality Laura Loomer has received press credentials to cover the Pentagon, joining a new roster of right-wing personalities admitted under the Defense Department's controversial revised media policy. Loomer, 32, is known for her close ties to President Trump and...

No Nuclear Explosions During Nuclear Tests: Official

Tests focus on weapons systems, not live detonations, official says

(Newser) - The Trump administration's new round of nuclear testing won't involve actual nuclear explosions, Energy Secretary Chris Wright clarified Sunday. Instead, the tests will focus on "the other parts of a nuclear weapon" to verify their reliability, Wright explained on Fox News, according to the New York Times...

Hegseth, Noem Among Cabinet Members Living in Military Digs

Senior US officials take over DC residences meant for top generals, admirals, drawing some criticism

(Newser) - Several senior Trump administration officials have moved into military housing traditionally reserved for top-ranking officers in the Washington, DC, area, reports the New York Times . Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth now resides in Quarters 8 at Fort McNair—the historic home typically assigned to the Army's vice chief of staff...

Trump: Nuclear Weapons Tests Will Resume 'Immediately'

Move comes as Russia, China expand nuclear weapons programs

(Newser) - President Trump on Wednesday announced he has ordered the Pentagon to "immediately" resume testing nuclear weapons, citing the need to keep pace with rival nations' programs. The president made the announcement on Truth Social just before a highly watched meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, NBC...

Bigelow Defends Nuke Thriller After Pentagon Pushback

Director says A House of Dynamite is grounded in realism

(Newser) - Kathryn Bigelow has responded to criticism from the Pentagon regarding her new Netflix film, A House of Dynamite, which dramatizes a failed US response to a nuclear strike. The director is defending the movie's portrayal of missile defense systems. She tells the Hollywood Reporter that her movies, including Zero ...

New York Times Identifies Mystery Donor to Troops

Newspaper says banking heir Timothy Mellon gave $130M to the Pentagon

(Newser) - A few days ago, reports surfaced that an anonymous donor had given the Pentagon $130 million to help pay troops during the government shutdown. Now, the New York Times has identified him: Timothy Mellon, a banking heir and railroad magnate who is a major supporter of President Trump. The president...

Trump Jr. Ties to Drone Firm Scrutinized After DOD Contract

President's son has $4M stake in Unusual Machines, which just saw its largest Pentagon deal

(Newser) - A Florida-based drone manufacturer with financial ties to Donald Trump Jr. has landed its largest Pentagon contract to date as the US military steps up efforts to boost domestic drone acquisition. The company, Unusual Machines, in which Trump Jr. holds a stake worth about $4 million, announced it will supply...

Anonymous Donor Gives $130M to Pay Troops During Shutdown

Legal grounds are unclear, but the gift won't go far in covering military payroll

(Newser) - The Pentagon announced Friday that it has accepted $130 million from a private, anonymous donor to go toward military pay during the government shutdown. The money was provided under the Pentagon's "general gift acceptance authority" and is intended to help cover the salaries and benefits of service members,...

Pentagon Sending Aircraft Carrier to South America

It's the latest US military escalation in the region

(Newser) - Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said Friday the military is deploying an aircraft carrier to the waters off South America, a move the Washington Post describes as a "major escalation" of the US military presence in the region. Hegseth ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford and its strike group to...

Pentagon Announces Replacement Press Corps

Replacing Post , Times Are Gateway Pundit, LindellTV

(Newser) - Several outlets supportive of the political right said Wednesday they had agreed to a new press policy rejected by virtually all legacy news media organizations and will take their place in the Pentagon, the AP reports. The new Pentagon press corps will include the Gateway Pundit, the National Pulse, Human...

After Paper Agrees to Pentagon Press Rules, Reporter Goes Off

Andrew Thornebrooke accuses Epoch Times of manipulating information to suit Trump

(Newser) - A national security reporter has resigned from the Epoch Times after the publication agreed to new Pentagon rules that restrict press activity inside the building. Andrew Thornebrooke, who frequently covered the Defense Department despite not holding an active Pentagon press pass, submitted his resignation in protest, calling the outlet's...

Maureen Dowd Unloads on 'Muttonhead' Hegseth
Maureen Dowd Unloads
on 'Muttonhead' Hegseth
OPINION
Oct 19, 2025 6:53 AM CDT

Maureen Dowd Unloads on 'Muttonhead' Hegseth

New York Times columnist predicts his crackdown on reporters will backfire

(Newser) - New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd goes after newly rechristened war secretary Pete Hegseth in unwithering fashion in her new column. Among the insults hurled: "muttonhead," "utterly unqualified and looking like the third lead of a cheesy spring-break movie," "paranoid," "immature and...

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