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US Coast Guard has seized over 225,000 pounds of cocaine in eastern Pacific
The milestone was reached over the weekend when the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bear interdicted over 7,000 pounds of cocaine in the eastern Pacific.
VA eliminates gender-identity initiatives, reclassifies LGBTQ+ care coordinators
The VA is eliminating all activity geared toward veterans’ gender identities and reclassifying its LGBTQ+ care coordinators, an internal memo says.
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Senate committee proposes 3.6% military pay raise, rejecting White House request for more
The Senate is proposing a lower raise for troops than what was requested, but its bill sets aside additional funding for military quality-of-life programs.
Senate, House defense bills seek to prevent renaming of US Navy vessels
A section of the FY27 NDAA includes a provision that the Navy secretary may only change the name of a ship with the consent of the Senate.
Congress seeks to limit US Navy vessels built in foreign shipyards
The Senate Armed Services Committee seeks to strip the waiver authority granted to the president to approve offshore ship construction.
US Navy must improve process for developing autonomous systems, watchdog says
The U.S. Government Accountability Office on Monday released an unclassified version of a 2025 classified report that analyzed the Navy's RAS progress.
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Pentagon & Congress
Pentagon open to Poland’s offer to host permanent U.S. base, Polish minister says
Poland has been pushing for a bigger allied presence on NATO’s eastern flank after Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine in 2022.
Republicans blast Iran agreement as details emerge
One Republican senator called the framework pact announced this week the “worst foreign policy blunder in decades.”
Vietnam War hero of Dong Ha Bridge to be awarded the Medal of Honor
President Donald Trump is set to posthumously award Marine Col. John Ripley the Medal of Honor on June 18 in a White House ceremony.
Senate advances effort to investigate use of JAG officers as immigration judges
A new measure would require an investigation into how roughly 600 military lawyers were used as immigration judges and special assistant U.S. attorneys.
In other news
Read the 14-point memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran
The 14-point memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran leaves contentious issues between the countries unresolved.
VIDEOS
President awards Medal of Honor to three recipients at White House
Two Marines and a soldier received the nation's highest military award for valor for actions in Vietnam and the war in Afghanistan.
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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.
2025 PCS Guide
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.
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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MORE STORIES
Senate, House defense bills seek to prevent renaming of US Navy vessels
A section of the FY27 NDAA includes a provision that the Navy secretary may only change the name of a ship with the consent of the Senate.
Doorstep grocery delivery expanding to all US commissaries
The service will roll out in phases to all U.S. commissaries by the end of September.
By Karen Jowers
Congress seeks to limit US Navy vessels built in foreign shipyards
The Senate Armed Services Committee seeks to strip the waiver authority granted to the president to approve offshore ship construction.
Has the military been miscalculating spouse unemployment?
A recent report suggests that the Pentagon has overstated spouse unemployment rates and obscured factors unique to a military lifestyle.
By Jennifer Barnhill
Pentagon demands human performance data from services in fitness overhaul
The Pentagon has quietly set in motion a yearlong strategy to unify the military services’ approach to achieving what it calls “Total Force Fitness.”
By Hope Hodge Seck
Fair winds, INDOPACOM: Pentagon returns command name to US Pacific Command
U.S. Pacific Command was the formation's official name until 2018, when it was changed to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
By J.D. Simkins
US Navy must improve process for developing autonomous systems, watchdog says
The U.S. Government Accountability Office on Monday released an unclassified version of a 2025 classified report that analyzed the Navy's RAS progress.
By Riley Ceder
Lawmakers aim to ease state-to-state moves for military homeschoolers
The Republican proposal would exempt military families from conflicting state laws on homeschooling, as long as they remain in compliance with one state.
By Karen Jowers
Navy officer, 67, becomes oldest on record to earn Fleet Marine Force pin
Watching his son graduate as a U.S. Navy officer inspired Westerberg in 2022 — at the age of 64 — to also pursue a commission in the sea service.
US won’t soften military posture in Middle East despite Iran agreement
Nearly 50,000 U.S. troops are positioned across the region, according to Adm. Brad Cooper, head of Central Command.
By Tanya Noury