Top stories
Navy did not document changes to recruitment procedures, watchdog says
The Navy reached its recruitment goal in fiscal 2024 by working through a backlog of 8,600 medical waivers, recruiting 5,845 sailors in the process.
US strikes set back Iran’s nuclear program up to 2 years, DOD says
“We’re thinking probably closer to two years — like degraded their program by two years,” Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said Wednesday.
Latest
Pentagon creates new military border zone in Arizona
The fourth national defense area created along the US-Mexico border will be an extension of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma in the Sonora Desert.
Chinese nationals charged with spying on US Navy
The DOJ said two Chinese nationals spied on Navy sailors and bases for China's intelligence agency and attempted to recruit service members as assets.
Senate passes Trump’s major policy bill with $150 billion for the DOD
Funding included in the bill would go toward shipbuilding, the Golden Dome homeland missile defense project, munitions and other key Pentagon priorities.
Navy to clear records for some sailors who refused COVID-19 vaccine
The settlement comes as the result of a class-action lawsuit brought by sailors who denied the COVID-19 vaccine due to religious reasons.
EDITOR'S PICKS
Pentagon & Congress
Trump, Netanyahu take victory lap over strikes on Iran nuclear sites
President Trump ordered U.S. forces to strike three key Iranian nuclear sites in June, a decision the Israeli leader says warrants a Nobel Peace Prize.
VA expects 30K voluntary job cuts by October, erasing need for layoffs
More than 17,000 Veterans Affairs jobs have been eliminated or vacated since the start of the year.
Sailor pleads guilty to bribing official for unauthorized military IDs
Raymond Zumba attempted to bribe a NAS Jacksonville employee for base access cards he was purchasing for Chinese buyers, according to court documents.
‘A new challenge’: Air Force vet becomes two-time living organ donor
Air Force veteran Lindsay Gutierrez is a two-time living organ donor after giving a kidney to a fellow veteran and part of her liver to another recipient.
In other news
Veteran Kurt Russell discovers his surprising Revolutionary War ties
On July Fourth, actor Kurt Russell visited a small museum in Massachusetts dedicated to his ancestor, who was killed by British soldiers 250 years ago.
VIDEOS
What’s in the Pentagon budget for 2026?
In a year without a large-scale DOD budget rollout, our reporters decipher what programs will receive Pentagon funding in fiscal 2026.
Featured Videos
SPECIAL FEATURES
Sea-Air-Space 2025 Coverage
Defense News is reporting on the top headlines and news coming out of Navy League’s annual show.
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.
‘A new challenge’: Air Force vet becomes two-time living organ donor
Air Force veteran Lindsay Gutierrez is a two-time living organ donor after giving a kidney to a fellow veteran and part of her liver to another recipient.
An ode to Dwight Schrute, The Office’s best squad leader
He'd rub people the wrong way in a real squad. But he'd also make sure you had water, ammo and a working red lens flashlight on the night of land nav.
By Clay Beyersdorfer
Why Despicable Me’s Gru is just a warrant officer with better branding
If Gru wore a uniform, it wouldn’t have stars or stripes. It would have a coffee stain and rank that no one really understands.
Why Patrick Star is the blue falcon of Bikini Bottom
Patrick Star is every lovable mess-up squadmate who cost you a weekend because he couldn’t keep his mouth shut during formation.
Don't miss
MORE STORIES
Navy did not document changes to recruitment procedures, watchdog says
The Navy reached its recruitment goal in fiscal 2024 by working through a backlog of 8,600 medical waivers, recruiting 5,845 sailors in the process.
By Riley Ceder
US strikes set back Iran’s nuclear program up to 2 years, DOD says
“We’re thinking probably closer to two years — like degraded their program by two years,” Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said Wednesday.
Illinois veteran bestowed military honors nearly a decade after death
An extraordinary cold case investigation revealed a formerly unidentified ward of the state to be a Women's Army Corps veteran.
Pentagon creates new military border zone in Arizona
The fourth national defense area created along the US-Mexico border will be an extension of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma in the Sonora Desert.
By Zita Ballinger Fletcher
Honolulu water agency sues US Navy over Red Hill fuel spill damage
The suit estimates it is costing $1.2 billion for the Board of Water Supply to clean up and protect Oʻahu’s drinking water wells.
By Marcel Honoré, Honolulu Civil Beat
Ukraine arms freeze part of wider military aid review, Pentagon says
The decision to pause the delivery of some munitions to Ukraine "was made to put America's interest first," a White House spokesperson said.
Top enlisted Marine takes a swipe at Audie Murphy’s uniform regs
The top enlisted Marine faced a sea of roasters on Army and Marine Reddit pages after he took a swipe at WWII combat soldier Audie Murphy.
The toilet paper war: A submariner’s battle against bureaucracy
In 1942, Lt. Cmdr. James Coe of the submarine Skipjack battled for his boat to receive what he deemed a basic necessity: toilet paper.
Chinese nationals charged with spying on US Navy
The DOJ said two Chinese nationals spied on Navy sailors and bases for China's intelligence agency and attempted to recruit service members as assets.
By Riley Ceder
All US military boots should be made in America, lawmakers contend
The bill requires all combat boots worn by U.S. service members, including optional boots, to be American-made.
By Zita Ballinger Fletcher