Military News
Coverage of the armed forces, defense spending, and global security challenges. The Daily Signal offers news, analysis, and conservative commentary.
-
- Opinion
As Congress Rebuilds the Military, Tracking Progress Is Vital
In recent years, perhaps no one has felt the pinch of budget cuts more than the U.S. military. Though Congress must remain responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars, injudicious cuts to defense did unnecessary damage to our armed forces. Thanks to recent action from Congress, however, the military has cause for optimism. Congress took the first…Anna Macdonald -
- Opinion
Existing Law Didn’t Protect Victims From the Jacksonville Shooter. It Left Them Defenseless.
This past weekend, a competitor at a video game competition in Jacksonville, Florida, allegedly opened fire on fellow gamers, killing two and wounding 10 before taking his own life. It appears that, like so many mass public shooters before him, current gun laws should have been enough to prevent him from possessing firearms. And once…Amy Swearer -
- Opinion
The Earliest Signing of the NDAA in 40 Years Is a Giant Step in Rebuilding the Military
With President Donald Trump’s signature Monday at Fort Drum, New York, the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2019 will be the earliest a defense authorization bill has become law since 1978. Forty years ago, the bill was 16 pages long and was called the “Department of Defense Appropriation Authorization Act,…Frederico Bartels -
- News
Media Misses: Op-Ed Suggests Being in Media Similar to Serving in Military
We break down the top media moments this week—and plenty of misses. This week, the conspiracy website Infowars, which is run by Alex Jones, was either “banned” or had content stripped from most social media platforms. Infowars is hardly a conservative website, but some fear that the social media “deplatforming” of its content will bleed…Ginny Montalbano -
- Opinion
NDAA Will Give Military Critical Boost in 2019
The John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, as approved in conference and passed by the House on July 26, will continue the progress begun in fiscal year 2018 in rebuilding the capacity, capabilities, and readiness of the U.S. military services. In so doing, it will enable them to regain their competitive…Tom Callender -
- Opinion
The 2019 NDAA Provides Some Important New Authorities to Modernize the US Military
The John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, which is the reconciliation of earlier House and Senate versions, is good news for the military. It grants the Defense Department and the military services some significant new authorities to assist in rebuilding the armed forces. Additionally, on several issues, Congress wisely chose to…Tom Callender -
- Opinion
Remembering Frank Carlucci, Reagan’s Secretary of Defense
Frank Carlucci III, who served under every president from Richard Nixon to Ronald Reagan, died June 3 at his home in McLean, Virginia. He was 87. Carlucci, who dedicated much of his adult life to serving the American people and became well-known for his bravery, conservatism, and problem-solving approach, served as the 15th national security…Luc Sasseville -
- Opinion
Pentagon’s New Transgender Policy Strikes Right Balance for Military
More than 100 lawmakers have signed a letter calling on Defense Secretary James Mattis to rescind his recently announced transgender policy for the military, as USA Today reports. Mattis’ policy largely returns the military to the transgender policy in effect prior to 2016, when President Barack Obama enacted sweeping changes based on political considerations and…Thomas Spoehr -
- News
Suspect Charged in Connection With Suspicious Packages Sent to Military Bases
A man is in custody in connection with suspicious packages found at military bases in the metropolitan Washington area. Thanh Cong Phan, 43, appeared in court in Washington state Tuesday, a little more than 24 hours after 11 packages arrived at the bases, CBS News reported. Phan previously had written crank letters to the military, CBS reported,…Henry Rodgers -
- Opinion
35 Years On, Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative Pays Dividends
Thirty-five years ago, on March 23, 1983, President Ronald Reagan declared, “Isn’t it worth every investment necessary to free the world from the threat of nuclear war? We know it is.” Thus the president introduced the Strategic Defense Initiative, “a comprehensive, layered ballistic missile defense program,” to the world. Thirty-five years later, the United States,…Michaela Dodge -
- Opinion
Podcast: The Week in Review, Plus a New Hope for Military Families
On our week-in-review show, Editor-in-Chief Rob Bluey and Managing Editor Katrina Trinko recap the top stories making news. They cover President Donald Trump’s meeting with North Korea, legislative activity on school safety, tariffs, judicial nominees, and country music’s political controversy. Plus, Bluey talks to Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., about his plan to give military families…Rob Bluey -
- Opinion
Why Congress Should Modernize Impact Aid for Children of Military Families
Kathleen Jones and her family were “trying to figure out the next chapter in their lives.” Her husband spent 28 years in the military, so the Jones family was making adjustments in Arizona for life after military service. Doctors diagnosed both of their boys as being on the autism spectrum, so finding the best services…Jonathan Butcher -
- Opinion
America’s Long History of Military Parades
Sometimes it’s good to have a little historical perspective when reacting to the news of the day. The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that President Donald Trump was working with the Pentagon to host a military parade in the District of Columbia after he was so impressed by France’s Bastille Day parade, which he witnessed…Jarrett Stepman -
- Opinion
Continuing Resolutions Impose Considerable Cost on Military
The continuing resolution recently passed by the House of Representatives includes a full fiscal year of appropriations for the Department of Defense. That’s good news for anyone that cares about our nation’s defense. Assuming the Senate passes the bill, it will be the fifth continuing resolution for fiscal year 2018, which began on Oct. 1….Frederico Bartels -
- Opinion
The Government Shutdown Will Further Weaken Our Military
Congress faced a number of bad options on Friday, when government funding expired for the third time this fiscal year. But lawmakers picked the worst option of all for our military and national security: they decided to let the government shut down. This decision will be incredibly damaging to our national security and to the…Frederico Bartels -
- Opinion
Pentagon’s Decision to Keep Cluster Bombs Preserves Military Readiness, Lethality
The Pentagon drew sharp but unwarranted criticism earlier this month following its decision to indefinitely delay compliance with a ban on certain kinds of legacy cluster bombs. Cluster bombs remain an important tool in the arsenal for U.S. forces, as they are effective at targeting light armor, massed infantry, and parked aircraft. We should not…Thomas Wilson -
- Opinion
House ‘Cromnibus’ Rightly Boosts Defense Spending, but Fails Test of Fiscal Responsibility
The House of Representatives is expected this week to debate H.R. 1370, which would fund national defense through the remainder of fiscal year 2018 and extend funding for all other discretionary programs until Jan. 19 via a continuing resolution. It would also provide funding extensions to several mandatory programs and potentially add more supplemental funding…Justin Bogie -
- Opinion
Rebuilding the Military Comes With a Price Tag. But the Price of Waiting Is Higher.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that it will cost an additional $295 billion over the next four years to execute President Donald Trump’s plans to rebuild the military. Its calculation was done by comparing the current Budget Control Act defense caps with the Trump budget outline. Those budget caps, established in 2011, limit how much…Frederico Bartels -
- Opinion
With More Investment, Our Missile Defense System Could Be Truly Dependable
Thirty-three minutes. That’s all the time we’d have to respond to an incoming intercontinental ballistic missile from anywhere in the world. Roughly half an hour to avert disaster—if we’re lucky. Sure, that isn’t the most cheerful thought to entertain, especially at Christmas time. But with all the saber-rattling coming from North Korea these days, not…Ed Feulner -
- Opinion
Contra Activist Judges, It’s Not Discriminatory to Prohibit Transgender Individuals From Joining Military
On Dec. 11, a federal lower court judge in Washington, D.C., refused to stay her earlier Oct. 30 order blocking President Donald Trump’s Aug. 25 directive regarding transgender military service. That directive, transmitted to the departments of Defense and Homeland Security, put to a halt the Obama administration’s June 2016 plan to allow transgender individuals…Alden Abbott