Top stories
Trump administration releases first tranche of ‘never-before-seen’ UFO files
“With these new Documents and Videos, the people can decide for themselves, ‘WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?’” Trump wrote, adding, “Have Fun and Enjoy!"
US and Iran exchange fire as Trump says war will ‘be over quickly’
U.S. forces launched retaliatory strikes against Iranian military facilities Thursday after Iran fired missiles and drones at three U.S. Navy vessels.
Latest
Presidential Fitness Test to be required at Defense Department schools
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Presidential Fitness Test would soon be mandatory in the DoD's 161 K-12 schools.
Military moves to issue medical disqualifications earlier in the recruitment process
The military will prescreen prospective recruits for 28 medical conditions that are highly unlikely to receive enlistment waivers.
Naples naval installation verifies presence of radon in buildings
The service is now confirming the results of a radon detection test it rejected nearly three months ago.
Lawmakers introduce bill to lower drug costs for service members, veterans
The proposal would allow Tricare beneficiaries and VA patients to pay the lowest government-negotiated price for prescription drugs.
EDITOR'S PICKS
MilTech
Pentagon turns to AI targeting to help troops shoot drones
The technology can detect threats and distinguish them from non-threats, such as birds, faster than a human operator can.
Opinion
Why Congress must end the remarriage penalty for military survivors
A policy that causes surviving spouses to lose their benefits if they remarry suggests their sacrifice ends the moment they seek a new chapter in life.
Commissaries reverse decision to charge for single-use bags
The decision came only one month after the bag fees went into effect.
Life or death centered around a canteen for this AEF soldier
While under a hail of machine gun fire, William Sawelson crawled through the mud to deliver water to a wounded soldier.
In other news
Coast Guard to stand up special forces command
The U.S. Coast Guard is standing up a new Special Missions Command to consolidate its elite maritime response forces.
VIDEOS
Navy looks to expand tech, autonomy for future fleet | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 5.5.26
The commander of the Naval Research Laboratory outlines goals for the fleet at Sea-Air-Space 2026. Plus, global defense spending updates for the year.
Featured Videos
SPECIAL FEATURES
Iran Coverage
Defense News is covering the evolving military, strategic, and regional implications of tensions and operations involving Iran.
Insurance Guide
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.
2025 Benefits Guide
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?
Don't miss
MORE STORIES
CENTCOM strike kills ISIS leader in Syria amid US troop drawdown
American officials said that Dhiya’ Zawba Muslih al-Hardani posed a threat to U.S. and allied forces.
DOD trying to head off problems with troops’ household goods moves
PCS task force working to solve troops' real-time household goods moving problems.
By Karen Jowers
Trump pick to lead VA health care reopens fight over ‘choice’ for vets
John Bartrum, nominee to be VA Under Secretary for Health, said he wants more freedom for veterans to use medical care options outside the department.
Republican lawmakers take aim at VA bonuses amid staffing cuts
GOP lawmakers are pushing reforms for a host of department employee financial incentives, but Democrats worry the moves will hurt recruiting efforts.
Over 20 million DOD users to get new online login verification process
The new myAuth system replaces the legacy DS Logon system, which authenticates users onto more than 200 Defense Department and Veterans Affairs websites.
By Karen Jowers
As lawmakers head to summer recess, threat of an autumn shutdown looms
Defense and veterans hearings on Capitol Hill for the week of July 22. 2025.
House advances $832 billion military budget plan for next fiscal year
Only a few Democrats broke ranks to support the House's spending plan for Defense Department operations in fiscal 2026.
VA’s #2 leader downplays political strife between Congress, department
Veterans Affairs Deputy Secretary Paul Lawrence said his relationship with congressional Democrats is strong, despite public fighting.
Senators criticize CFPB for dropping action on troops’ overdraft fees
CFPB ordered Navy Federal in November 2024 to pay $80 million to service members unfairly charged overdraft fees. CFPB terminated that mandate this month.
By Karen Jowers