Military News

One of the fundamental roles of a leader is organizing people—knowing how to direct people’s efforts and where to allocate resources. Failing to establish clear priorities leads to wasted effort or, worse, mission failure. A famous maxim warns leaders: “If everything is important, nothing is.” No one should envy the job of Lloyd Austin, President…

Many predict that shortly after assuming office, former Vice President Joe Biden will move to rescind the Trump administration’s 2019 policy on military service by transgender individuals. That would be within his authority. Unless Congress intervenes, presidents set and revise entrance criteria for military service. Before he takes such action, however, he should consider the…

America’s security depends largely on the readiness of the U.S. military. Threats loom like a rising China, terrorism, and bad actors like North Korea, Iran, and others. These countries have demonstrated a desire to remake the existing world order to better suit their ideologies and interests. To remain ready, America’s armed forces depend on a…

The military strength of the United States again is rated as only “marginal” in a new report, the “2021 Index of U.S. Military Strength“, from The Heritage Foundation. Russia is identified as the main threat to the U.S., but China is identified in the report as “the most comprehensive threat that the U.S. faces, [and]…

In a revived era of great power competition, the United States must face revisionist powers and rogue regimes with advancing nuclear forces and a greater willingness to use them than we have experienced in the past. It’s incumbent upon the next administration to protect American citizens and interests from these rising threats. Under the Trump…

The top two items on the agenda in the waning days of the 116th Congress should be to pass appropriations bills to keep the government from shutting down Dec. 11 and to agree on the 60th annual National Defense Authorization Act. During an event Tuesday marking release of The Heritage Foundation’s 2021 Index of U.S….

This article is an excerpt from the “2020 Mandate for Leadership: A Clear Vision for the Next Administration.” It looks back at policy decisions made by the Trump administration over the past four years. You can purchase your copy of “Mandate 2020” here. Since publication of the last Mandate for Leadership, the Trump administration has worked…

Americans who want to better understand the complex threats the United States faces might assume that they need to read at least several books to get the full picture. Indeed, the landscape is complicated. The range of threats today includes cyber, space, nuclear weapons, artificial intelligence-guided weapons, and robots; not to mention the more traditional…

It’s not just statues and American history that are under attack. The most essential ideas from America’s founding are under siege and on trial. Robert R. Reilly, the director of the Westminster Institute and widely published author, joined “The Right Side of History” podcast to discuss his new book “America on Trial: A Defense of the…

In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trump administration was criticized for not using the Defense Production Act quickly enough or in sufficient quantity to counter the spread of the coronavirus. Now, after using the act 33 times since March 18, there is no denying that the administration is utilizing it to fight…

The House Appropriations Committee approved its fiscal year 2021 funding bill for the Department of Defense on July 14 on a straight party-line vote of 30 to 22. If last year’s defense budget cycle teaches us anything, it is that this level of partisanship is a path for failure. In 2019, the House Armed Services…

The House Armed Services Committee last week unanimously approved its version of the National Defense Authorization Act, with all 56 members who were present voting in favor of the legislation. The July 1 action was an important bipartisan show of support that eluded the House of Representatives last year, when the committee lost all Republican…

This is one in a series on the importance of achieving peace through strength and keeping U.S. national security strong. Both long have been Heritage Foundation principles and a great foundation for America’s national power. Some voices call for reducing defense spending to focus on the response to COVID-19, but the need to fully fund our…

This piece is part of a series on the importance of achieving peace through strength and a strong national security for the United States. Both have long been Heritage Foundation principles and a great foundation for American national power. Some voices are calling for a reduction in defense spending in order to focus on the…