Expect a ‘Leaner, Agile’ Resurrected 2nd Fleet
The resurrected 2nd Fleet will become operational by early next year. The fleet will oversee the training of Navy forces on the East Coast. Expect the fleet to be “leaner, agile, and more expeditionary” than it was when deactivated in 2011.
China Expands Armed Drones Sales: DoD Reports on Whose Buying Them
The mandated DoD reports says China completed more than $20 million in sales, with the country’s second largest arms sales going to the Middle East and North Africa and notes the uptick is the likely result of an increased demand for armed drones.
Death-Defying F35 Maneuvers on Display
Long in coming, but now that it has arrived, the F35 fighter jet is winning over pilots and spectators with its death defying capabilities.
Settlement Reached in Fitzgerald Collision
Olympic Steamship Company, owner of the merchant vessel, the ACX Crystal, that collided with the USS Fitzgerald in 2017, will pay the US government nearly $27 million as part of a settlement agreement. Seven sailors drowned.
Is Acting DefSec Playing Favorites?
Acting DefSec Patrick Shanahan’s remarks during his 18 months at the Pentagon have spurred accusations that he is boosting his former employer Boeing, fueling questions about whether he harbors a bias against other big military contractors.
DoD Loses $28B in Expired Funds
The first ever Pentagon audit led to the discovery of nearly $28B in funds that expired in 2018. The military is prevented from using expired funds for new projects.
Shutdown Pain Keeps Growing
A quarter of the federal government has been partially closed for more than two weeks. Check out the growing list of shutdown-affected agencies here and on the Eastern Shore.
Maryland Among Top States Affected by Shutdown
Maryland ranks among the top states most affected by the partial federal government shutdown. The District of Columbia ranked the top most affected state (No. 1), followed by New Mexico (No. 2), and Maryland (No. 3).
Navy Plans Two Carriers, One Contract
The Navy plans to commit $24 billion to buy two new Ford-class aircraft carriers under the same contract, a commitment that should save 5 to 10 percent over buying each carrier separately.
Dems Open Session With Plan to End Shutdown
With a special caveat to discuss border security later, House Democrats open the new session of Congress today with the goal of ending the government shutdown and reinstating a 1.9 percent federal pay raise Trump rescinded late last year.
