defense spending

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Inside the UK's Plan to Pump Up Its Military
Inside the UK's Plan
to Pump Up Its Military
the rundown
Jun 4, 2025 1:51 PM CDT

Inside the UK's Plan to Pump Up Its Military

PM Keir Starmer announced planned increase in defense spending

(Newser) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday advocated for a plan that would see the UK make its biggest increase in defense spending since the end of the Cold War, build new nuclear-powered attack submarines, and become "a battle-ready, armor-clad nation." Starmer was blunt about the main instigator...

UK to Boost Defense Spending, Slash Foreign Aid
UK to Boost
Defense Spending,
Slash Foreign Aid
the rundown
Feb 25, 2025 5:25 PM CST

UK to Boost Defense Spending, Slash Foreign Aid

'President Trump thinks we should do more. I agree with him,' says Starmer

(Newser) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer made a surprise announcement Tuesday, telling Parliament his government would "begin the biggest sustained increase in defense spending since the end of the Cold War" while slashing the foreign aid budget by 40%, per the CBC . Here's what that means:
  • For Trump?: The
...

Bernie Sanders: 'Elon Musk Is Right' on Defense Spending

Pentagon budget is 'full of waste and fraud,' senator says

(Newser) - Sen. Bernie Sanders doesn't seem to have softened his stance on billionaires, but he's found something he agrees with Elon Musk about. In post Sunday on X , the independent senator from Vermont said Musk was right about the need to cut defense spending, the Hill reports. "Elon...

Russia Is Throwing Serious Cash at Its Defense Budget

Vladimir Putin vows all goals in Ukraine 'will be achieved'

(Newser) - Russia will boost defense spending by 25% to record levels in 2025 with President Vladimir Putin vowing "all goals set" in the country's war with Ukraine "will be achieved." A draft budget posted on the parliament's website notes defense and security spending will account for...

Poland PM: 'We Haven't Seen a Situation Like This Since 1945'

Donald Tusk warns we're in 'prewar' era, Europe needs to up defense spending and prepare

(Newser) - Poland's prime minister is out with a new warning for the rest of his neighbors in Europe, cautioning that the continent is now in a "prewar" era that requires an increase in defense spending all around to keep everyone safe. "I don't want to scare anyone,...

GOP Hardliners Unhappy as Defense Bill Passes

Gaetz, others complain about concessions on abortion, trans issues

(Newser) - The House passed a defense policy bill Thursday that authorizes the biggest pay raise for troops in more than two decades, overcoming objections from some conservatives concerned the measure did not do enough to restrict the Pentagon's diversity initiatives, abortion travel policy, and gender-affirming health care for transgender service...

House OKs Defense Bill With Eyebrow- Raising Extras

Add-ons in annual legislation include restrictions on abortion, transgender health care, diversity training

(Newser) - The US House on Friday approved a sweeping annual defense bill that provides an expected 5.2% pay raise for service members but strays from traditional military policy with political add-ons from Republicans to block abortion coverage, diversity initiatives at the Pentagon, and transgender issues that deeply divided the chamber....

China's Defense Budget Jumps
China's Defense Budget Jumps
Mar 5, 2022 3:10 PM CST

China's Defense Budget Jumps

Premier says the increase will be used to speed up modernization

(Newser) - China announced Saturday it has decided to increase military spending at the fastest clip since 2019. The 7.1% boost would put the defense budget for this year at $230 billion, CNBC reports. The increase for 2021 was 6.8%, while spending rose 7.5% in 2019. "We will...

France Calls Off US Gala Amid Rift Over New Security Pact

They describe sub deal as a 'knife in the back'

(Newser) - While they haven't asked for the Statue of Liberty back, the French have made it very clear that they're not happy about being excluded from the new US-UK-Australia security pact . A Friday gala at France's Washington embassy to celebrate the 240th anniversary of the Battle of the...

Lopsided Senate Vote Delivers Veto Override on Defense Bill

Lawmakers hold rare New Year's Day session to give Trump a defeat

(Newser) - The Senate wrapped up a defeat for President Trump on Friday, voting to override his veto of the defense authorization bill. Despite Republicans controlling the Senate, the vote wasn't close: 81-13, the Hill reports. The House had agreed, 322-87, earlier in the week. A veto override requires a two-thirds...

'US Military Superiority Is No Longer Assured'
'US Military Superiority
Is No Longer Assured'
NEW REPORT
Nov 14, 2018 8:05 AM CST

'US Military Superiority Is No Longer Assured'

Commission warns Russia, China could prevail in war

(Newser) - A new report to Congress delivers a "flashing red" warning of a national security crisis. It's no migrant caravan, but the general degradation of American military might. "The US military could suffer unacceptably high casualties and loss of major capital assets in its next conflict. It might...

Broken Coffee Mugs Cost Air Force $1.3K Each

But they've found a 50 cent solution

(Newser) - While nobody wants the nation's airmen to have to drink cold coffee, Air Force officials have admitted that spending $1,280 for a metal mug that breaks easily is "irresponsible," USA Today reports. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said in a letter to Sen. Chuck Grassley that...

Trump Signs McCain Defense Bill, Doesn't Mention McCain

Bill gives service members biggest raise in 9 years

(Newser) - President Trump on Monday signed a $716 billion defense policy bill named for John McCain but included no mention in his remarks of the Republican senator, who is battling brain cancer at home in Arizona. Trump said there was "no better place than right here at Fort Drum,"...

Pence Tells NATO Allies to Pay More for Defense

He says Russia will be 'held accountable' for Ukraine actions

(Newser) - Mike Pence promised NATO allies Saturday that they had the "unwavering" support of the US, while also making it clear that the administration considers most of them to be freeloaders. The vice president, speaking to European leaders at the Munich Security Conference, said European countries are failing to "...

Trump's Latest Tweet Target: F-35 Fighter Jet

Shares for Lockheed Martin, suppliers dip after Trump criticizes costs

(Newser) - Last week, Donald Trump criticized "out of control" costs for Boeing's 747 Air Force One jets. On Monday, the president-elect took a new swing at the Pentagon, this time coming down on the cost of the country's fighter jet program, the Wall Street Journal reports. "The...

We're Spending $9M a Day to Fight ISIS

Pentagon releases first detailed breakdown of costs

(Newser) - The US has spent more than $2.7 billion on the war against ISIS militants in Iraq and Syria since bombings began last August, and the average daily cost is now more than $9 million, the Pentagon said yesterday. Releasing a detailed breakdown of the costs for the first time,...

How McCain Could Change US Defense

With GOP taking control of Senate, he'll likely chair Armed Services Committee

(Newser) - With Senate leadership changing , John McCain appears poised to be the new head of the Armed Services Committee—and that could have big implications for US defense, Reuters reports. McCain has a history of criticizing what he sees as excessive spending on some weapons programs; as chair of the committee,...

Pentagon's Plan: Cut Army to Pre-WWII Level

Hagel budget moves military off 'war footing'

(Newser) - The US Army may soon shrink to a level not seen since before it geared up to fight Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan simultaneously. In a spending proposal to be unveiled today, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel outlines plans to cut the Army to around 450,000 soldiers, its lowest level...

GOP Looks Ready to Sabotage Itself Again
GOP Looks Ready to Sabotage Itself Again
OPINION
Dec 3, 2013 12:55 PM CST

GOP Looks Ready to Sabotage Itself Again

'Wall Street Journal' editors say budget standoff could negate ObamaCare gains

(Newser) - The conservative editorial page of the Wall Street Journal sounds pretty hopeful that the troubles of ObamaCare will translate into solid GOP gains in next year's midterms. But the editors also see signs that Republicans are going to once again blow it with a "stupid, futile budget standoff....

5 Cuts Pentagon Should Make Now
 5 Cuts Pentagon 
 Should Make Now 
OPINION
Feb 26, 2013 12:08 PM CST

5 Cuts Pentagon Should Make Now

Start with the F-35 mistake: Paul Barrett

(Newser) - To hear the Pentagon tell it, the looming sequester cuts will hurt military readiness and put the nation at genuine risk. "Flapdoodle," writes Paul Barrett at Businessweek . "The military is manufacturing a crisis to protect its wasteful, bloated, poorly designed budget." He suggests five cuts the...

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