Military News
Coverage of the armed forces, defense spending, and global security challenges. The Daily Signal offers news, analysis, and conservative commentary.
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opinion
EXCLUSIVE: 3,000 Military Veterans Reject Pentagon’s ‘Left-Wing Social Agenda,’ Support Tuberville’s Fight
FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—The cavalry is coming to help Sen. Tommy Tuberville. For months, the Alabama Republican has waged a fight against the Defense Department’s woke agenda by blocking the Senate’s approval of nearly 200 promotions for military generals and flag officers. The military establishment, Senate Democrats, and the Biden administration have resorted to… -
news
‘Woke’ Pentagon Unites House Conservatives, Tuberville in Standoff Over Military Promotions
FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—A group of House conservatives made their way across the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday night for a rare appearance on the Senate floor. They were there to show solidarity with Sen. Tommy Tuberville, the Alabama Republican crusading against the Pentagon’s woke leadership. At least 10 conservatives were on hand to witness… -
opinion
Beijing Telegraphs Its Intentions With Recent Military Exercises Around Taiwan
In a historic event on April 5, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy held the highest-ranking meeting ever between a Taiwanese president and a U.S. official on U.S. soil. During Tsai’s visit, and following a trip to Taiwan by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last Aug. 2, the Chinese Communist Party… -
opinion
Beijing’s Hypocrisy Hits New High With Missile Defenses
For years, China complained about the development and deployment of American missile defenses, a capability that Beijing didn’t have and claimed would undermine strategic stability and security in Asia. It’s funny how you don’t hear Beijing protesting about the development and deployment of U.S. missile defenses anymore now that China itself is developing and deploying… -
news
Defense Department ‘Drastically Shifted Off Course,’ Rep. Mike Waltz Says as Military Readiness Panel Reports
America is facing “the most serious and alarming recruiting and retention crisis that we’ve seen since Vietnam,” Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., said Thursday at a Heritage Foundation event focused on military readiness. “Over the last couple of years, we have seen a fundamental shift in our military culture, in the military itself, and in the… -
news
Gaetz Grills Top Brass on Drag Queen Story Hours After Service Members Report Politicization of Military
The nation’s top general agreed that drag queen story hours should not occur on American military bases after an exchange Wednesday with Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., during a budget hearing held by the House Armed Services Committee. Gaetz questioned Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley on drag queen story hours occurring on… -
news
4 Takeaways as Lawmakers Probe Pentagon’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Efforts
President Joe Biden has extensively promoted diversity, equity, and inclusion as the focus of government agencies, including the Defense Department and its armed services. The House Armed Services Committee held a subcommittee hearing Thursday to address whether these programs are making the military stronger or actually are wasting resources, creating more division, and contributing to… -
opinion
40 Years After Reagan, Neglected US Missile Defense Is Dangerously Obsolete
Forty years ago Thursday, President Ronald Reagan addressed the American people to announce his plan for a national ballistic missile defense system. This new program, known as the Strategic Defense Initiative, or SDI, was envisioned to eventually protect the United States from any Soviet nuclear attack. However, years of force degradation and confusing policies from… -
opinion
Within Ranks, Trust in Our Military Declines Amid Politicization of National Defense
Service members increasingly are concerned with the growing politicization of the U.S. military, recent polling shows. In October, The Heritage Foundation established an independent panel to address political practices or policies within the Pentagon that hinder the operational effectiveness of the armed forces. (The Daily Signal is Heritage’s multimedia news organization.) As part of its… -
opinion
Remixed Defense Advisory Boards Reflect Partisan Shift
In early 2021, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin fired all the members of 42 separate defense advisory boards and suspended operation of the panels until the Pentagon could do a “zero-based” review. The Defense Department sponsors these advisory boards to provide the Pentagon advice on matters such as business operations, innovation, health care, retirement, and operation… -
news
These Republicans Voted Against Reinstating Military Members Discharged for Refusing to Get Vaccinated
Four Republican senators voted Thursday against reinstating military members who were discharged for refusing to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Mitt Romney of Utah, Mike Rounds of South Dakota, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, and Susan Collins of Maine voted against Republican Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson’s amendment that would have reinstated and provided backpay to military members… -
opinion
Hungary Leads Way in Defense of Conservative Values, Culture
Although in many countries around the world, liberal political views are dominant, some nations in Eastern Europe have notably resisted the left-wing ideology. One of the most criticized among the latter is Hungary. The Hungarian government stands for national sovereignty and conservative values among the world’s nations. In a Heritage Foundation event on Monday, “Promoting… -
opinion
America’s Military Strength Is Declining. Here’s How to Fix It.
The U.S. military not only is weak overall but “at growing risk of not being able to meet the demands of defending America’s vital national interests,” according to a new report from The Heritage Foundation. On Tuesday, Heritage released its 2023 Index of U.S. Military Strength, a document of nearly 600 pages that assesses the strength… -
opinion
‘Not Sure Taiwan’s Going to Survive,’ Defense Expert Warns of Xi’s Push for ‘Reunification’
Chinese President Xi Jinping renewed his calls for the “reunification” of China and Taiwan on Sunday during the opening session of the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party. “We will continue to strive for peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity and the utmost effort, but we will never promise to renounce the use… -
opinion
There’s an Ideological Grooming Problem on America’s Military Bases
Educators and administrators running K-12 education on America’s military bases are indoctrinating the children of military personnel in radical gender ideology, critical race theory, and left-wing activism. In a new Claremont Institute investigative report, my colleague Scott Yenor and I document this latest evolution in America’s culture war. This development at military-run schools tracks broader trends… -
opinion
Calling Us Terrorists Wasn’t Enough: NSBA Wanted Military to Crack Down on Concerned Parents
Parental rights in education is not domestic terrorism. Any organization that says otherwise should have no influence over public policy whatsoever. And yet, in a first draft of a letter to President Joe Biden, the National School Boards Association requested the Army National Guard and military police to monitor parents in school board meetings. Why?… -
opinion
Military Recruiting Faces Its Biggest Challenge in Years
Since the transition to an all-volunteer force in 1973, there have been years when the military services missed their recruiting goals. These include 1999, 2005, and 2018 when either the economy was booming or casualties in a conflict were perceived high. But according to military personnel officials at a Senate hearing last week, 2022 is… -
opinion
US Military Forces Cannot Fight on 2 Fronts
The current war in Ukraine and Russia’s threatening actions toward NATO countries coupled with a rising China in Asia highlights a strategic pickle for the United States—the need to be able to deter or potentially fight two major adversaries in two very different regions of the world at the same time with the military it… -
opinion
Israel’s Laser Missile Defenses Show Promise for the Future
In response to increasing missile threats from regional terrorist groups, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced that a new laser defense system will be deployed within a year to intercept incoming missile attacks. This news highlights the increasing pace of development and utility of using high-energy lasers—a directed energy weapon—for missile defense. Israel already deploys… -
opinion
Drop in Public Trust in Military Officers Portends Danger
Gallup recently released a poll describing how American’s confidence in military officers had declined to its lowest level since it began measuring in 2001. The big news was that between 2017 and 2022, Americans who believe military officers possess “high ethics” declined by a full 10 points, down to 61%. An optimist could see this…