pete hegseth Archives

Hegseth directs DOD leaders to soon issue bonuses up to $25K to high-performing civilian employees

In a Dec. 15 memo to Pentagon leadership, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered officials to reward high performers.

Dec 19, 2025 By Jon Harper

US President Donald Trump addresses the nation from the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on December 17, 2025. (Photo by Doug MILLS / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

More details released about $1,776 ‘warrior dividend’ payment announced by Trump

The one-time payments are expected to be made by Dec. 20.

Dec 18, 2025 By Jon Harper

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Raun Howell, 6th ARW command chief, second from left, shakes hands with Gen. Johnny Lamontagne, Air Mobility Command commander, at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, June 9, 2025. Lamontagne arrived to attend CORONA South 2025, a conference held bi-annually that allows Air Force leaders to discuss strategy and policy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Derrick Bole)

Trump nominates Gen. Lamontagne for Air Force vice chief

The Air Force has been without a Senate-confirmed vice chief since February, when Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth fired Gen. James Slife from the position.

Dec 16, 2025 By Mikayla Easley

Arial view of the Pentagon with the Washington Monument and Jefferson Memorial in the background. (Photo by Shannon Knott)

Talent development to unleash the DOD acquisition workforce

Scaling the DCTC model is central to meeting Secretary Hegseth's transformation agenda and responding to congressional intent.

Dec 15, 2025 By Karen DaPonte Thornton John Willison

Pentagon Undersecretary Emil Michael speaks at DefenseTalks on Dec. 9, 2025. (Sergey Kolupaev/EPNAC)

DOD initiates large-scale rollout of commercial AI models and emerging agentic tools

Google products mark the first of several frontier AI capabilities to be housed on the DOD’s new GenAI.mil platform.

Dec 9, 2025 By Brandi Vincent

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Len Tidey (left) and Sgt. 1st Class Tom Rees execute a leaflet drop over Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on April 1, 2006. (DoD photo by Spc. Leslie Angulo, U.S. Army. (Released))

Hegseth issues directive to bring back ‘psyop’ terminology

“Military information support operations,” or MISO, will once again be known as “psychological operations,” or PSYOP.

Dec 9, 2025 By Drew F. Lawrence

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te (C) inspects reservists operating a Hummer 2 Drone during a training session at Loung Te Industrial Parks Service Center, in Yilan County on December 2, 2025. (Photo by I-Hwa Cheng / AFP via Getty Images)

NDAA pushes Pentagon to establish joint drone and counter-drone program with Taiwan

The conference version of the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act would require the Pentagon to try to set up a new joint program with Taiwanese officials.

Dec 8, 2025 By Jon Harper

In this photo illustration, the Signal Messenger logo is seen displayed on a smartphone screen. (Photo Illustration by Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Watchdog wants defense CIO to supply evidence of improvements in ‘Signalgate’ aftermath

The Pentagon’s Office of Inspector General published two highly-anticipated reports Thursday, with new details about the incident.

Dec 4, 2025 By Brandi Vincent

Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drones are positioned on the tarmac at a base in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) operating area, Nov. 23, 2025. The LUCAS platforms are part of a one-way attack drone squadron CENTCOM recently deployed to the Middle East to strengthen regional security and deterrence. (Courtesy Photo)

US military stands up first kamikaze drone squadron under Centcom’s new ‘Scorpion Strike’ task force

The Pentagon recently formed a unit that’s delivering Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System — or LUCAS — drones in the Middle East.

Dec 3, 2025 By Brandi Vincent

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth hosts a drone demonstration at the Pentagon, July 10, 2025. The event was hosted to portray the Secretary of Defense’s initiative of Unleashing U.S. Military Drone Dominance. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alondra Y. Lopez Gonzalez)

Pentagon unveils Drone Dominance Program with ‘Gauntlets’ to rapidly expand its small UAS arsenal

In an RFI and accompanying website, the DOD supplied a first look at its iterative, high-dollar aims to incentivize the drone industry.

Dec 2, 2025 By Brandi Vincent