Pentagon

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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...

Southern Command's Boss Quits as Pentagon Sends Forces

Adm. Alvin Holsey has held the job, overseeing the area that includes the boat strikes, for less than a year

(Newser) - The head of the US Southern Command, whose job includes overseeing military operations in the area where the Pentagon has been carrying out fatal strikes on what the Trump administration describes as drug-running boats, announced Thursday that he's leaving the position. Adm. Alvin Holsey has been in the...

Journalists Vacate Pentagon as Hegseth's Rules Kick In
Pentagon Reporters Pack Up
Oct 15, 2025 5:08 PM CDT

Pentagon Reporters Pack Up

Journalists turn in their badges as Trump endorses Hegseth's new rules

(Newser) - Dozens of reporters turned in access badges and exited the Pentagon on Wednesday rather than agree to government-imposed restrictions on their work, pushing journalists who cover the American military further from the seat of its power. News outlets were nearly unanimous in rejecting new rules imposed by Defense Secretary Pete...

A Pentagon Reporter Is Worried About What's Next

NPR's Tom Bowman, who is losing his press pass, says Hegseth wants reporters to be 'parrots'

(Newser) - Tom Bowman of NPR is losing the Pentagon press pass he's had for 28 years on Tuesday, and he offers both an explanation and a warning about why in an essay . NPR is one of many news organizations that have rejected strict new limits on what reporters can and...

Hegseth Is Really Going After Charlie Kirk's Detractors

Pentagon is probing hundreds of DOD staffers over online posts after activist's murder

(Newser) - The Pentagon has launched nearly 300 investigations into Defense Department personnel—including service members, civilian staff, and contractors—for their online comments following the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The sweeping probe, described in internal documents and reported by the Washington Post , follows a directive from Defense...

Press Association Blasts New Pentagon Restrictions

'The American people deserve to know how their military is being run'

(Newser) - Facing a deadline next week on whether to sign a statement acknowledging new restrictions on how they do their jobs or risk being thrown out of the Pentagon, journalists who cover the US military appear headed toward a showdown with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Negotiations over changing some of the...

Defense Officials Weigh In on Hegseth Meeting: 'Could Have Been an Email'

Event draws criticism for timing, tone, and focus on domestic roles

(Newser) - Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's attempt to rally America's military brass at Quantico Tuesday seems to have fizzled, with many officials left questioning why hundreds of generals were summoned in person—just hours ahead of the government shutdown . "Could have been an email," shrugged one of...

Trump to Generals: I've Never Had Such a Silent Room

Military brass were following protocol, but president asks them to loosen up

(Newser) - President Trump followed up defense chief Pete Hegseth's speech to the nation's top generals with one of his own, though he didn't lay out any new military initiatives. The president spoke for about 70 minutes and hit a wide range of topics. Some highlights via CNN , the...

Hegseth: 'Era of Politically Correct' Military Is Over

He also rails against 'fat generals,' facial hair, and 'woke' ideology

(Newser) - Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed a rare assembly of the top US generals and admirals on Tuesday, though his speech didn't reveal any major surprises. Hegseth reiterated points he has previously made: He wants a less "woke" fighting force and a warrior mentality. Highlights from his speech in...

Top Brass Are Worried About Hegseth's New Strategy

Administration reportedly drafts plan shifting Pentagon's priorities away from China, Europe

(Newser) - Top military leaders—including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff—have registered serious concerns with the Trump administration's planned change in defense strategy ahead of the meeting involving hundreds of generals and admirals , Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and President Trump scheduled for Tuesday in Virginia. Current and...

Trump's Decision to Go Upends Security for Generals Meeting

Secret Service has to take over protection for the event at Quantico

(Newser) - Word has gone out from the White House that President Trump plans to attend the hastily called meeting of hundreds of the nation's top generals and admirals on Tuesday, a gathering ordered last week by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who said he'll address the brass. Trump's decision...

Pentagon Looks at Options to Strike Venezuelan Drug Targets

Operation could begin in weeks, insiders say

(Newser) - The Pentagon is working on plans to attack drug traffickers inside Venezuela, an operation that could begin in weeks, people familiar with the operation told NBC News . President Trump posted last weekend that military had destroyed a boat in the Caribbean that he said was carrying narco-traffickers and drugs for...

Trump Sending Troops to 'War-Ravaged' Portland

President claims it's partly to protect ICE facilities from 'domestic terrorists,' 'antifa'

(Newser) - President Trump said on Saturday that he'll send troops to Portland, Oregon, to handle "domestic terrorists" as he expands his controversial deployments to more American cities. He made the announcement on social media , writing that he was directing the Department of Defense to "provide all necessary Troops...

Hegseth Summons Top Brass for Mysterious Meeting

Generals from around the world have been called to Virginia at short notice

(Newser) - Generals will gather in their masses in Virginia next week—but unlike witches at black masses, the reason for the meeting is unclear. The Washington Post , citing "more than a dozen people familiar with the matter," reports that with no explanation and little warning, Defense Secretary Pete...

Pentagon Rolls Out Rules Limiting What Can Be Reported

Journalists would have to seek clearance and escorts for building access

(Newser) - The Pentagon has announced new rules restricting journalists' movement in the Department of Defense headquarters and requiring them to sign a pledge to not publish unauthorized information. Violations could lead to revocation of reporters' credentials, the Hill reports. Pentagon officials, who have already kicked news organizations they've criticized...

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