MD’s Bridges Get $400M for Repairs
There are currently 273 bridges in Maryland that have been rated poor or structurally deficient, including the Thomas Johnson Bridge. The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes $400 million earmarked for Maryland bridges over the next five years.
Report: DoD Making Progress on Cybersecurity
A Pentagon’s Government Accountability Office report finds the US Defense Department is making progress on cybersecurity amid challenges.
US Sticks With Policy to Keep Turkey Out of F-35 Program
The Biden administration is sticking with the policy of keeping Turkey out of the F-35 JSF program. The US urges Ankara not to keep the S-400 defense system it purchased from Russia in 2019. Turkey should instead invest in the American-made Patriot air defense missile system, the Pentagon says.
Govt. Agencies Could Be at Risk After Suspected Russian Hack
All federal civilian executive branch agencies have been directed to search their networks for indications they were compromised after the US Commerce Department was hacked. The hackers entered US systems through updates by the software company that also provides services to the White House, the Pentagon, and NASA.
Richard Spencer Out as Navy Secretary
NavSec Richard Spencer has been ousted from his post after his handling of the case of Navy SEAL Edward “Eddie” Gallagher, who was accused of war crimes. DefSec Mark Esper asked for Mr. Spencer’s resignation late Sunday.
DoD Fails 2nd Audit – No Surprise
DoD’s second-ever financial audit shows some progress, but uncovers more new problems than fixes. DoD has 3 million employees, 4,500 defense sites in 160 countries, a $292 billion inventory, more than $2.9 trillion in total assets, and $2.8 trillion in liabilities.
Focus Growing in Middle East on UAVs
There is a strong focus on imports for unmanned aerial vehicles in the Middle East. Nations there are looking at a mix of US, Russian, and Chinese suppliers of UAVs.
$39 Million Missile Sale to Ukraine Approved
The same request that helped initiate an impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump has netted $39 million in a missile sale to Ukraine to help deter Russia.
Esper is Sworn in as DefSec
Mark Esper is sworn in as US Secretary of Defense during an Oval Office ceremony. Esper supports former DefSec Jim Mattis’ National Defense Strategy to maintain preparedness for conflict with capable adversaries like Russia and China.
$738B for DoD Not Enough, Says GOP
The nearly $1.4 trillion spending plan — which would prevent a government shutdown this fall and do away with the final two years of budget caps known as sequestration — includes about $738 billion for DoD in FY2020, a 3 percent increase from current year levels.
