The Pentagon has summoned military officials from around the world for a gathering in Virginia. According to Washington Post even top generals and their staffs don’t know the reason for the meeting. There are about 800 generals and admirals spread across the United States and dozens of other countries and time zones. Everyone has been asked to join the urgent meeting.


USA: Rare emergency meeting of US military, mystery orders shake Washington

USA: Hegseth orders rare meeting of Pentagon top brass

The U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale of AIM-120D-3 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles to Germany, valued at approximately $1.23 billion. The Pentagon confirmed the deal on Thursday, marking a significant development in defense cooperation between the two nations.

U.S. approves $1.2 billion missile sale to Germany

Pentagon: The United States has approved a potential $1.23 billion missile sale to Germany, authorizing up to 400 AIM-120D-3 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) and related equipment.


Pentagon: US Approves $1.23 Billion Sale of Advanced Missiles to Germany  

Pentagon: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has called for a rare and large-scale meeting of hundreds of top generals and admirals at Quantico, Virginia. The sudden order has generated uncertainty, with few details released about the agenda or objectives.


Pentagon: Hegseth Summons Hundreds of Senior Military Leaders to Rare Virginia Meeting |

The pentagon has summoned military officials from around the world for a gathering in Virginia. According to Washington Post even top generals and their staffs don’t know the reason for the meeting. There are about 800 generals and admirals spread across the United States and dozens of other countries and time zones. Everyone has been asked to join the urgent meeting.


800 US generals called for urgent meeting in Virginia 

Pentagon Press Restrictions: On Friday, the Pentagon introduced new rules for reporters covering the Defense Department, requiring them to pledge not to publish any information that hasn’t been authorized by the administration, or risk losing access to DOD facilities.


Pentagon Press Restrictions: Journalists Must Pledge Compliance 

US President Donald Trump on Friday (Sep 5) signed an executive order, rebranding the Department of Defence as the Department of War, a name that hasn’t been used in over 70 years. Trump said that the move is indeed to “send a message of victory.” He said that the current name of the Pentagon was “too wokey” and failed to project strength, adding that the old name was “more appropriate for where the world is right now”.The order signed by Trump allows the department to use the new name as a “secondary title”. To formally rename the Pentagon, Trump would require congressional approval.<h2>Why is Trump pushing to change the name of Pentagon?</h2>The recent executive order, which recognises Department of War as Pentagon’s secondary title, is not a surprise. Trump had expressed his desire to change the name in the past as well. Last month, Trump said that the Department of Defense “didn’t sound good to me... it used to be called the Department of War. It had a stronger sound, and as you know, we won World War I, we won World War II, we won everything. Now we have a Department of Defense; we’re defenders.”Vox reported that the US president told Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, “If you want to change it back to what it was when we used to win wars all the time, that’s okay with me.”<h2>History of Department of Defense</h2>Originally created as a cabinet-level body in 1789, the Department of War was renamed to Department of Defence in 1947. The department oversees the US armed services.While Trump is right that the United States had a Department of War, its functions were not the same as the present Department of Defence. According to Vox, the department was controlled the US Army, while the Navy was managed under a separate department.Then president Harry Truman and other senior military leaders belived that this division had resulted in weakened coordination during the war. The former president even said that due to this, the US was unable to prevent the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.“Truman and his top national security advisers believed that it was essential to integrate and rationalise both national security planning and the preparation of the war plans,” historian Melvyn Leffler said according to Vox.On Trump’s recent executive order, Leffler said, “Changing the name from defence to war implies a much greater desire to engage in bellicose policies. That might lead to actual armed conflict.”<h2>What it means now?</h2>The change of name days after China demonstrated its new range of weapons, drones and military systems in the massive parade. The move has been widely interpreted as a warning to Washing and is allies.This also comes amid the rising global tensions, including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and Middle East conflicts.BBC reported that Pentagon’s official website had already changed its domain to war.gov with a new headline ‘US Department of War’.

The recent executive order, which recognises Department of War as Pentagon’s secondary title, is not a surprise. Trump had expressed his desire to change the name in the past as well.

US President Donald Trump on Friday (Sep 5) signed an executive order, rebranding the Department of Defence as the Department of War, a name that hasn’t been used in over 70 years. Trump said that the move is indeed to “send a message of victory.” He said that the current name of the Pentagon was “too wokey” and failed to project strength, adding that the old name was “more appropriate for where the world is right now”. The order signed by Trump allows the department to use the new name as a “secondary title”. To formally rename the Pentagon, Trump would require congressional approval. Why is Trump pushing to change the name of Pentagon? The recent executive order, which recognises Department of War as Pentagon’s secondary title, is not a surprise. Trump had expressed his desire to change the name in the past as well. Last month, Trump said that the Department of Defense “didn’t sound good to me... it used to be called the Department of War. It had a stronger sound, and as you know, we won World War I, we won World War II, we won everything. Now we have a Department of Defense; we’re defenders.” Vox reported that the US president told Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, “If you want to change it back to what it was when we used to win wars all the time, that’s okay with me.” History of Department of Defense Originally created as a cabinet-level body in 1789, the Department of War was renamed to Department of Defence in 1947. The department oversees the US armed services. While Trump is right that the United States had a Department of War, its functions were not the same as the present Department of Defence. According to Vox, the department was controlled the US Army, while the Navy was managed under a separate department. Then president Harry Truman and other senior military leaders belived that this division had resulted in weakened coordination during the war. The former president even said that due to this, the US was unable to prevent the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. “Truman and his top national security advisers believed that it was essential to integrate and rationalise both national security planning and the preparation of the war plans,” historian Melvyn Leffler said according to Vox. On Trump’s recent executive order, Leffler said, “Changing the name from defence to war implies a much greater desire to engage in bellicose policies. That might lead to actual armed conflict.” What it means now? The change of name days after China demonstrated its new range of weapons, drones and military systems in the massive parade. The move has been widely interpreted as a warning to Washing and is allies. This also comes amid the rising global tensions, including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and Middle East conflicts. BBC reported that Pentagon’s official website had already changed its domain to war.gov with a new headline ‘US Department of War’.

The recent executive order, which recognises the Department of War as the Pentagon’s secondary title, is not a surprise. Trump had expressed his desire to change the name in the past as well.

Department of War: Why Trump wants to restore pre World War II name – Know its history

US President Donald Trump is preparing to sign an executive order on Friday to rename the Department of Defence as the Department of War. The White House says the move is part of a wider push to project a stronger and more aggressive image of America’s military. A senior official confirmed the plan, though the change would normally need an act of Congress. According to people familiar with the matter, the administration is exploring legal ways to bypass a vote. The War Department existed from America’s independence until 1947, when it was replaced by the Department of Defence under President Harry Truman.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-india-ties-at-worst-in-decades-ex-us-nsa-john-bolton-says-trump-ruined-ties-with-modi-pushed-new-delhi-closer-to-china-russia-1757044750382">US-India ties at 'worst in decades': Ex US NSA John Bolton says Trump ruined ties with Modi, pushed New Delhi closer to China, Russia</a><h2>Hegseth repeats Trump’s call</h2>Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has openly embraced the term “warfighters”, backed the president’s plan. On Thursday night, he posted simply “Department of War” on X. He has even renamed his Pentagon conference room the “W.A.R. Room.” In a Fox News interview, Hegseth said, “We won World War I, and we won World War II, not with the Department of Defence, but with a War Department. As the president has said, we’re not just defence, we’re offence.”<h2>Cost concerns over Pentagon overhaul</h2>Renaming the department could cost billions, with the need to update signage, stationery, emblems and plaques across hundreds of Pentagon agencies and bases worldwide. Critics warn this could undermine Trump’s own efforts to cut military spending and waste. Still, the rebrand fits Trump’s push to overhaul the post-World War II national security system created under Truman. He has already slashed the National Security Council and cut several Pentagon agencies.<h2>‘Defence is too defensive’</h2>Trump has raised the idea repeatedly since taking office, even with NATO allies. At a rally last month, he argued, “As Department of War, we won everything. We won everything. We’re going to have to go back to that.” Explaining the logic, he added, “Defence is too defensive. And we want to be defensive, but we want to be offensive too if we have to be. So, it just sounded to me like a better name.”<h2>Democrats hit back</h2>Democrats wasted no time criticising the plan. Congressman Darren Soto mocked Trump on X, saying, “Trump is begging for the Nobel Peace Prize. This should cinch it for him right?”

President Trump plans to rename the Department of Defence as the Department of War to project military strength. The move, backed by Defence Secretary Hegseth, may bypass Congress through legal means.

US President Donald Trump is preparing to sign an executive order on Friday to rename the Department of Defence as the Department of War. The White House says the move is part of a wider push to project a stronger and more aggressive image of America’s military. A senior official confirmed the plan, though the change would normally need an act of Congress. According to people familiar with the matter, the administration is exploring legal ways to bypass a vote. The War Department existed from America’s independence until 1947, when it was replaced by the Department of Defence under President Harry Truman. Also read: US-India ties at 'worst in decades': Ex US NSA John Bolton says Trump ruined ties with Modi, pushed New Delhi closer to China, Russia Hegseth repeats Trump’s call Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has openly embraced the term “warfighters”, backed the president’s plan. On Thursday night, he posted simply “Department of War” on X. He has even renamed his Pentagon conference room the “W.A.R. Room.” In a Fox News interview, Hegseth said, “We won World War I, and we won World War II, not with the Department of Defence, but with a War Department. As the president has said, we’re not just defence, we’re offence.” Cost concerns over Pentagon overhaul Renaming the department could cost billions, with the need to update signage, stationery, emblems and plaques across hundreds of Pentagon agencies and bases worldwide. Critics warn this could undermine Trump’s own efforts to cut military spending and waste. Still, the rebrand fits Trump’s push to overhaul the post-World War II national security system created under Truman. He has already slashed the National Security Council and cut several Pentagon agencies. ‘Defence is too defensive’ Trump has raised the idea repeatedly since taking office, even with NATO allies. At a rally last month, he argued, “As Department of War, we won everything. We won everything. We’re going to have to go back to that.” Explaining the logic, he added, “Defence is too defensive. And we want to be defensive, but we want to be offensive too if we have to be. So, it just sounded to me like a better name.” Democrats hit back Democrats wasted no time criticising the plan. Congressman Darren Soto mocked Trump on X, saying, “Trump is begging for the Nobel Peace Prize. This should cinch it for him right?”

President Trump plans to rename the Department of Defence as the Department of War to project military strength. The move, backed by Defence Secretary Hegseth, may bypass Congress through legal means.

‘Defence is too defensive’: Trump wants Pentagon renamed as ‘Department of War’ and it will cost US BILLIONS

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has removed the head of America’s Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), in a dramatic shake-up inside the Pentagon, according to US media reports. Lt Gen Jeffery Kruse, who led the DIA, is said to have been dismissed just weeks after a White House clash over a leaked report assessing US strikes on Iran. Two other senior commanders have also reportedly been forced out.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ghislaine-maxwell-says-jeffery-epstein-didn-t-die-by-suicide-but-1755956154742">'You can get a prisoner to kill for $25': Ghislaine Maxwell says Epstein 'didn’t die by suicide' but...</a><h2>Why was the DIA chief removed?</h2>The Pentagon has given no official explanation for Kruse’s exit. But it comes shortly after President Donald Trump publicly attacked a DIA assessment which claimed that recent strikes on Iran had only delayed its nuclear programme by a few months. The White House branded the report “flat out wrong”, while Trump insisted the nuclear sites had been “completely destroyed” and called the criticism “an attempt to demean one of the most successful military strikes in history”. At the Nato summit in June, Hegseth described the intelligence report as “low intelligence” and confirmed that the FBI was investigating the leak.<h2>More top commanders pushed out</h2>According to Reuters, Hegseth has also removed the chief of the US Naval reserves and the commander of Naval Special Warfare Command. The Washington Post first reported Kruse’s dismissal.The DIA, part of the Pentagon, is responsible for gathering and analysing military intelligence to support US operations worldwide. It is separate from agencies such as the CIA, with a particular focus on technical and battlefield intelligence.<h2>Critics warn of “loyalty test”</h2>US Senator Mark Warner said Kruse’s removal showed Trump had a “dangerous habit of treating intelligence as a loyalty test rather than a safeguard for our country”. The firing follows a wider pattern. Trump has previously ordered the dismissal of officials who produced reports that contradicted his claims.In July, he called for the Labour Statistics commissioner, Erika McEntarfer, to be sacked “immediately” after jobs data showed slowing growth. Earlier in April, he removed General Timothy Haugh as head of the National Security Agency, alongside several senior staff at the National Security Council.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has removed DIA chief Lt Gen Jeffery Kruse after a clash over a leaked Iran strike report. Two other senior commanders were also reportedly dismissed.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has removed the head of America’s Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), in a dramatic shake-up inside the Pentagon, according to US media reports. Lt Gen Jeffery Kruse, who led the DIA, is said to have been dismissed just weeks after a White House clash over a leaked report assessing US strikes on Iran. Two other senior commanders have also reportedly been forced out. Also read: 'You can get a prisoner to kill for $25': Ghislaine Maxwell says Epstein 'didn’t die by suicide' but... Why was the DIA chief removed? The Pentagon has given no official explanation for Kruse’s exit. But it comes shortly after President Donald Trump publicly attacked a DIA assessment which claimed that recent strikes on Iran had only delayed its nuclear programme by a few months. The White House branded the report “flat out wrong”, while Trump insisted the nuclear sites had been “completely destroyed” and called the criticism “an attempt to demean one of the most successful military strikes in history”. At the Nato summit in June, Hegseth described the intelligence report as “low intelligence” and confirmed that the FBI was investigating the leak. More top commanders pushed out According to Reuters, Hegseth has also removed the chief of the US Naval reserves and the commander of Naval Special Warfare Command. The Washington Post first reported Kruse’s dismissal. The DIA, part of the Pentagon, is responsible for gathering and analysing military intelligence to support US operations worldwide. It is separate from agencies such as the CIA, with a particular focus on technical and battlefield intelligence. Critics warn of “loyalty test” US Senator Mark Warner said Kruse’s removal showed Trump had a “dangerous habit of treating intelligence as a loyalty test rather than a safeguard for our country”. The firing follows a wider pattern. Trump has previously ordered the dismissal of officials who produced reports that contradicted his claims. In July, he called for the Labour Statistics commissioner, Erika McEntarfer, to be sacked “immediately” after jobs data showed slowing growth. Earlier in April, he removed General Timothy Haugh as head of the National Security Agency, alongside several senior staff at the National Security Council.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has removed DIA chief Lt Gen Jeffery Kruse after a clash over a leaked Iran strike report. Two other senior commanders were also reportedly dismissed.

Hegseth ousts Intel chief after leak reveals US strikes barely delayed Iran’s nuclear programme, contradicting Trump’s ‘obliteration’ claim

US President Donald Trump reportedly wanted to cancel government contracts with Elon Musk’s SpaceX after their relationship turned sour. But now that the Trump team is looking into it, they’re realising it’s not that straightforward. According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump administration staffers have reviewed SpaceX’s agreements with NASA and the Pentagon. They concluded that cancelling them could seriously damage key US space and defence programmes.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-russia-about-to-ban-whatsapp-putin-orders-crackdown-on-social-media-apps-from-unfriendly-countries-1753009335811">Is Russia about to ban WhatsApp? Putin orders crackdown on social media apps from 'unfriendly countries'</a><h2>What did the review of SpaceX contracts reveal?</h2>The review found that only a few of SpaceX’s current deals might be open to further scrutiny. None have actually been cancelled. That’s because there’s no alternative company that can do the same job as well or as cheaply. SpaceX is the world’s leading launch provider. Last year, it was behind 83% of all satellite launches globally. It’s been a long-time contractor for the US government and plays a vital role in helping Ukraine maintain communications in its war with Russia. So far, Musk’s company has received at least $21 billion from US taxpayers, and another $13 billion is expected.<h2>Isn’t there any competitor to SpaceX?</h2>Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin is one of the few rivals. In the last round of Trump-era contract awards, it secured seven deals, compared to 28 for SpaceX. But experts say that’s not enough to challenge SpaceX’s dominance. “There’s no replacing SpaceX. You just do not have the capacity in our other launch options,” defence and space expert Todd Harrison told Forbes.<h2>What about Musk’s other companies?</h2>SpaceX isn’t the only Musk firm linked to the government. The Pentagon recently signed a $200 million deal with xAI, Musk’s artificial intelligence startup, to work on AI for military use. This happened just after xAI’s chatbot “Grok” sparked controversy by calling itself “MechaHitler” on X. Altogether, Musk has secured $38 billion in US government contracts. That includes $15.7 billion for Tesla alone, many of which were approved during Joe Biden’s presidency.

SpaceX is the world’s leading launch provider. Last year, it was behind 83% of all satellite launches globally. It’s been a long-time contractor for the US government and plays a vital role in helping Ukraine maintain communications in its war with Russia.

US President Donald Trump reportedly wanted to cancel government contracts with Elon Musk’s SpaceX after their relationship turned sour. But now that the Trump team is looking into it, they’re realising it’s not that straightforward. According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump administration staffers have reviewed SpaceX’s agreements with NASA and the Pentagon. They concluded that cancelling them could seriously damage key US space and defence programmes. Also read: Is Russia about to ban WhatsApp? Putin orders crackdown on social media apps from 'unfriendly countries' What did the review of SpaceX contracts reveal? The review found that only a few of SpaceX’s current deals might be open to further scrutiny. None have actually been cancelled. That’s because there’s no alternative company that can do the same job as well or as cheaply. SpaceX is the world’s leading launch provider. Last year, it was behind 83% of all satellite launches globally. It’s been a long-time contractor for the US government and plays a vital role in helping Ukraine maintain communications in its war with Russia. So far, Musk’s company has received at least $21 billion from US taxpayers, and another $13 billion is expected. Isn’t there any competitor to SpaceX? Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin is one of the few rivals. In the last round of Trump-era contract awards, it secured seven deals, compared to 28 for SpaceX. But experts say that’s not enough to challenge SpaceX’s dominance. “There’s no replacing SpaceX. You just do not have the capacity in our other launch options,” defence and space expert Todd Harrison told Forbes. What about Musk’s other companies? SpaceX isn’t the only Musk firm linked to the government. The Pentagon recently signed a $200 million deal with xAI, Musk’s artificial intelligence startup, to work on AI for military use. This happened just after xAI’s chatbot “Grok” sparked controversy by calling itself “MechaHitler” on X. Altogether, Musk has secured $38 billion in US government contracts. That includes $15.7 billion for Tesla alone, many of which were approved during Joe Biden’s presidency.

SpaceX is the world’s leading launch provider. Last year, it was behind 83% of all satellite launches globally. It’s been a long-time contractor for the US government and plays a vital role in helping Ukraine maintain communications in its war with Russia.

Can Trump really cut Elon Musk’s contracts? Pentagon says breaking up with Musk isn’t easy - Here's why

A US senator is asking the Pentagon for more information on Microsoft's purported use of Chinese engineers in keeping military cloud computing systems going, a copy of the letter obtained by new agency Reuters shows. US Senator Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican and chair of the chamber's intelligence committee and also a member of its armed services committee, sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following an investigative reporting piece in ProPublica earlier this week.&nbsp;&nbsp;The report explained Microsoft's employment of Chinese engineers to do work on US military computer systems overseen by US "digital escorts" employed by subcontractors with security clearances but often lacked the technical qualifications to determine if the work of the Chinese engineers was a threat to cybersecurity.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-one-of-my-worst-appointments-trump-again-lashes-out-at-jerome-powell-for-choking-out-us-housing-markets-1752841397821">'One of my worst appointments’: Trump again lashes out at Jerome Powell for ‘choking out’ US housing markets</a>&nbsp;When contacted by Reuters regarding both the ProPublica story and US Senator Tom Cotton's letter, Microsoft refused to comment. The company, a major contractor to the US government and whose networks have been infiltrated by both Chinese and Russian hackers, informed ProPublica that it shared its practices with the US government as part of an authorisation process.&nbsp;The Defense Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Cotton asked the US military provide a list of all contractors who employ Chinese workers and information about how US "digital escorts" are trained to detect suspicious activity. &nbsp;"The U.S. government recognizes that China's cyber capabilities pose one of the most aggressive and dangerous threats to the United States, as evidenced by infiltration of our critical infrastructure, telecommunications networks, and supply chains," Cotton wrote in the letter. The U.S. military "must guard against all potential threats within its supply chain, including those from subcontractors."

Military cloud at risk US Senator seeks answers from Pentagon over Microsoft China link

A US senator is asking the Pentagon for more information on Microsoft's purported use of Chinese engineers in keeping military cloud computing systems going, a copy of the letter obtained by new agency Reuters shows. US Senator Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican and chair of the chamber's intelligence committee and also a member of its armed services committee, sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following an investigative reporting piece in ProPublica earlier this week. The report explained Microsoft's employment of Chinese engineers to do work on US military computer systems overseen by US "digital escorts" employed by subcontractors with security clearances but often lacked the technical qualifications to determine if the work of the Chinese engineers was a threat to cybersecurity. Also Read: 'One of my worst appointments’: Trump again lashes out at Jerome Powell for ‘choking out’ US housing markets When contacted by Reuters regarding both the ProPublica story and US Senator Tom Cotton's letter, Microsoft refused to comment. The company, a major contractor to the US government and whose networks have been infiltrated by both Chinese and Russian hackers, informed ProPublica that it shared its practices with the US government as part of an authorisation process. The Defense Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Cotton asked the US military provide a list of all contractors who employ Chinese workers and information about how US "digital escorts" are trained to detect suspicious activity. "The U.S. government recognizes that China's cyber capabilities pose one of the most aggressive and dangerous threats to the United States, as evidenced by infiltration of our critical infrastructure, telecommunications networks, and supply chains," Cotton wrote in the letter. The U.S. military "must guard against all potential threats within its supply chain, including those from subcontractors."

US Senator Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican who chairs the chamber's intelligence committee and also serves on its armed services committee, sent the letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after a report in investigative journalism publication ProPublica earlier this week

Military cloud at risk? US Senator seeks answers from Pentagon over Microsoft-China link

A new report has painted a stark picture of US military spending: over the past five years, more than half of the Pentagon's discretionary budget has gone to private contractors — a staggering $2.4 trillion — in what is being described as a "continuing and massive transfer of wealth from taxpayers to fund war and weapons manufacturing". The study by the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and Brown University's Costs of War project, first reported by The Guardian, details how the lion's share of the Pentagon's $4.4 trillion discretionary budget between 2020 and 2024 ended up in the hands of arms makers and defence tech firms.<h2>What did the report find?</h2>As per the report, between 2020 and 2024, the five largest Pentagon defence contractors — Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Boeing, General Dynamics, and Northrop Grumman — alone secured $771 billion in contracts. Overall, private firms received as much as 54 per cent of the department's discretionary spending."High Pentagon budgets are often justified because the funds are ‘for the troops'," said William D. Hartung, one of the report’s authors. However, he explained that as the report shows "the majority of the department's budget goes to corporations, money that has as much to do with special interest lobbying as it does with any rational defense planning." He added that "Much of this funding has been wasted on dysfunctional or overpriced weapons systems and extravagant compensation packages."The report also projects that the Trump administration's latest Pentagon budget will push overall US military spending past $1 trillion a year. This, despite Trump's early claims that he might slash defence spending, a $157 billion increase was pushed through Congress under his "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," effectively continuing — and even expanding — former president Joe Biden's administration's high defence budget. As per the report, since 2000, the US military budget has nearly doubled – an increase of 99 per cent."These figures represent a continuing and massive transfer of wealth from taxpayers to fund war and weapons manufacturing," said Stephanie Savell, director of the Costs of War project.&nbsp; The report authors say that the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, contrary to the projections, "did not result in a peace dividend". Instead, "President Biden requested, and Congress authorised, even higher annual budgets for the Pentagon, and President Trump is continuing that same trajectory of escalating military budgets.The report also highlights the sharp difference between what the US' Congress spent on development vs what it spent on defence. When calculated for inflation, the military spending clearly dwarfs the approximate $356 billion spent on diplomacy, development and humanitarian aid.

As per the report, between 2020 and 2024, the five largest Pentagon defence contractors — Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Boeing, General Dynamics, and Northrop Grumman — alone secured $771 billion in contracts.

A new report has painted a stark picture of US military spending: over the past five years, more than half of the Pentagon's discretionary budget has gone to private contractors — a staggering $2.4 trillion — in what is being described as a "continuing and massive transfer of wealth from taxpayers to fund war and weapons manufacturing". The study by the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and Brown University's Costs of War project, first reported by The Guardian, details how the lion's share of the Pentagon's $4.4 trillion discretionary budget between 2020 and 2024 ended up in the hands of arms makers and defence tech firms. What did the report find? As per the report, between 2020 and 2024, the five largest Pentagon defence contractors — Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Boeing, General Dynamics, and Northrop Grumman — alone secured $771 billion in contracts. Overall, private firms received as much as 54 per cent of the department's discretionary spending. "High Pentagon budgets are often justified because the funds are ‘for the troops'," said William D. Hartung, one of the report’s authors. However, he explained that as the report shows "the majority of the department's budget goes to corporations, money that has as much to do with special interest lobbying as it does with any rational defense planning." He added that "Much of this funding has been wasted on dysfunctional or overpriced weapons systems and extravagant compensation packages." The report also projects that the Trump administration's latest Pentagon budget will push overall US military spending past $1 trillion a year. This, despite Trump's early claims that he might slash defence spending, a $157 billion increase was pushed through Congress under his "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," effectively continuing — and even expanding — former president Joe Biden's administration's high defence budget. As per the report, since 2000, the US military budget has nearly doubled – an increase of 99 per cent. "These figures represent a continuing and massive transfer of wealth from taxpayers to fund war and weapons manufacturing," said Stephanie Savell, director of the Costs of War project. The report authors say that the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, contrary to the projections, "did not result in a peace dividend". Instead, "President Biden requested, and Congress authorised, even higher annual budgets for the Pentagon, and President Trump is continuing that same trajectory of escalating military budgets. The report also highlights the sharp difference between what the US' Congress spent on development vs what it spent on defence. When calculated for inflation, the military spending clearly dwarfs the approximate $356 billion spent on diplomacy, development and humanitarian aid.

As per the report, between 2020 and 2024, the five largest Pentagon defence contractors — Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Boeing, General Dynamics, and Northrop Grumman — alone secured $771 billion in contracts.

'War and weapons' over welfare? Report exposes Pentagon's $2.4 trillion 'wealth transfer' to private contractors

Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth on Monday (Jun 16) announced that the United States is reinforcing its military presence in the Middle East to enhance its “defensive posture”. This comes as the deadly ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran continued for the fourth night.&nbsp;“Over the weekend, I directed the deployment of additional capabilities to the United States Central Command Area of Responsibility,” Hegseth posted on X. “Protecting US forces is our top priority and these deployments are intended to enhance our defensive posture in the region.”&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/TMb47DQMVZ">pic.twitter.com/TMb47DQMVZ</a>&mdash; Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef/status/1934726498725810271?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;Shortly after, the White House announced that Trump will be leaving the G7 summit a day early due to developments in the Middle East.&nbsp;“President Trump had a great day at the G7, even signing a major trade deal with the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Much was accomplished, but because of what’s going on in the Middle East, President Trump will be leaving tonight after dinner with Heads of State,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X.&nbsp;According to a Reuters report, a US official said that Trump will not sign a draft statement from G7 leaders calling for de-escalation of the Israel-Iran conflict.&nbsp;&nbsp;The draft statement, seen by Reuters, states that Iran must never have a nuclear weapon and that Israel has the right to defend itself. It also commits to safeguarding market stability, including energy markets. Canadian and European diplomats said that world leaders at the G7 summit in Canada are continuing discussions on the conflict in the Middle East.&nbsp;US President Donald Trump urged residents of Tehran to leave, reiterating Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's warnings amid the military conflict between Israel and Iran.&nbsp;"Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social account during a Group of Seven summit in Canada, without providing further details.&nbsp;“Iran should have signed the ‘deal’ I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON,” the US president said.&nbsp;Talking to reporters at the G7 summit in Canada, Trump expressed confidence that Iran would eventually sign a nuclear deal with the US, warning that Washington will be “doing something” once he leaves the international summit. He did not specify what possible actions the US plans to take.&nbsp;“I think a deal will be signed, or something will happen. But a deal will be signed,” Trump said.&nbsp;“As soon as I leave here, we're going to be doing something. But I have to leave here.”&nbsp;Trump also said that Iran was not winning its conflict with Israel and should re-enter negotiations “before it's too late”.&nbsp;“They have to make a deal, and it's painful for both parties, but I'd say Iran is not winning this war, and they should talk, and they should talk immediately, before it's too late,” Trump told reporters at a G7 summit in Canada.&nbsp;He reiterated Washington’s support for Israel, adding, “We’ve always supported Israel and Israel is doing very well here.”

This comes amid the deadly ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran continued for the fourth night.

Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth on Monday (Jun 16) announced that the United States is reinforcing its military presence in the Middle East to enhance its “defensive posture”. This comes as the deadly ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran continued for the fourth night. “Over the weekend, I directed the deployment of additional capabilities to the United States Central Command Area of Responsibility,” Hegseth posted on X. “Protecting US forces is our top priority and these deployments are intended to enhance our defensive posture in the region.”

This comes amid the deadly ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran continued for the fourth night.

Will US enter Israel-Iran war? Pentagon chief orders deployment of ‘additional capabilities’ to Middle East

The US Justice Department deliberately fuelled Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) conspiracy theories for decades, misleading the public and even their own personnel.In recent years, theories have been built and circulated about Area 51 military base, a classified US Air Force facility in the Nevada desert, including stories of orb-like UFOs that US military pilots have spotted and mysterious sightings around military bases.Far-right Republicans have also accused the purported "deep state" of hiding UFO-related truth from the public as well as the government.According to the Wall Street Journal, a Department of Defence review found that in the 1980s, an Air Force colonel was sent on a mission to spread false information, hence creating rumours about it.He then visited a bar near Area 51 and gave the owner fake photos of flying saucers, which raised new UFO rumours around the secretive military base.The now-retired colonel later confessed to Pentagon investigators, saying that the mission was aimed to divert attention from the real purpose of the site, that was, testing the then-secret F-117 Nighthawk stealth aircraft.According to officials, embedding the programme within alien folklore was the best way to shield it from Soviet surveillance during the Cold War.The US defence agencies allegedly used these myths several times to protect sensitive military developments.All this came into light when in July 2022, the Pentagon established the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) to investigate Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs) across air, sea, and space.Sean Kirkpatrick, the first director of the AARO, reviewed government documents from 1945 and interrogated current and former military officers.After the probe, it was found that the US military intentionally planted UFO conspiracy theories, including those linked to Area 51.The Pentagon shared disinformation, including photoshopped images of flying saucers.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-1000-for-every-us-baby-here-s-what-we-know-about-trump-s-savings-accounts-plan-for-american-babies-1749578329966">Also read: $1000 for every US baby? Here's what we know about ‘Trump’s Savings Accounts’ plan for American babies?</a>

Far-right Republicans have also accused the purported "deep state" of hiding UFO-related truth from the public as well as the government.

The US Justice Department deliberately fuelled Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) conspiracy theories for decades, misleading the public and even their own personnel. In recent years, theories have been built and circulated about Area 51 military base, a classified US Air Force facility in the Nevada desert, including stories of orb-like UFOs that US military pilots have spotted and mysterious sightings around military bases. Far-right Republicans have also accused the purported "deep state" of hiding UFO-related truth from the public as well as the government. According to the Wall Street Journal, a Department of Defence review found that in the 1980s, an Air Force colonel was sent on a mission to spread false information, hence creating rumours about it. He then visited a bar near Area 51 and gave the owner fake photos of flying saucers, which raised new UFO rumours around the secretive military base. The now-retired colonel later confessed to Pentagon investigators, saying that the mission was aimed to divert attention from the real purpose of the site, that was, testing the then-secret F-117 Nighthawk stealth aircraft. According to officials, embedding the programme within alien folklore was the best way to shield it from Soviet surveillance during the Cold War. The US defence agencies allegedly used these myths several times to protect sensitive military developments. All this came into light when in July 2022, the Pentagon established the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) to investigate Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs) across air, sea, and space. Sean Kirkpatrick, the first director of the AARO, reviewed government documents from 1945 and interrogated current and former military officers. After the probe, it was found that the US military intentionally planted UFO conspiracy theories, including those linked to Area 51. The Pentagon shared disinformation, including photoshopped images of flying saucers. Also read: $1000 for every US baby? Here's what we know about ‘Trump’s Savings Accounts’ plan for American babies?

Far-right Republicans have also accused the purported "deep state" of hiding UFO-related truth from the public as well as the government.

Hiding aliens to planting UFOs: What's the TRUTH behind Area 51 rumours spread by US military?

Days after India launched Operation Sindoor in retaliation to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/pakistans">Pakistan's</a> terror attack in Pahalgam, a former Pentagon official said that Pakistan went running to try to achieve a ceasefire like a "scared dog".&nbsp;
Former Pentagon official Michael Rubin said that India targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) with precision, adding that it was able to blunt Pakistan's response.&nbsp;
"India won this both diplomatically and militarily. The reason why India won diplomatically is that all attention is now on Pakistan's terrorist sponsorship, Rubin said, while speaking to the news agency ANI.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/operation-sindoor-line-of-beggars-begins-wherever-pakistan-stands-indias-defence-minister-rajnath-singh-slams-pak-for-imf-bailouts-india-pakistan-tensions-9072336">'Line of beggars begins wherever Pakistan stands': India's defence minister slams Pak for IMF bailouts amid crippling economy</a>
"Pakistan went running to try to achieve a ceasefire like a scared dog with its tail between its legs" after India put their airfields out of commission, Rubin said.&nbsp;
He added that Pakistan cannot run away from the reality that it &ldquo;lost very, very badly&rdquo;.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-govt-revokes-security-clearance-for-turkish-ground-handling-firm-celebi-airport-services-after-operation-sindoor-9072657">Turkey under fire for siding with Pakistan, Indian govt revokes security clearance for Turkey's Celebi Airport Services</a>
<h2>Pakistani army attending terrorists' funeral</h2>
The official further noted that the Pakistani officials attended the funeral of terrorists, which shows that there is no difference between a terrorist and a member of Pakistani armed forces.&nbsp;
"The fact that Pakistani officers in uniform attended the funeral of terrorists shows that there is no differentiation between a terrorist and a member of the ISI or the Pakistani armed forces. Basically, the world is going to demand that Pakistan extract the rot from its own system," he said.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Diplomatically, India changed the conversation, militarily, Pakistan is shocked,&rdquo; he added.
He continued to slam Pakistan and said that they every time start the war and yet convince themselves that somehow they won.&nbsp;
"Pakistan has started every single war with India and yet convinced itself that somehow it has won. It's going to be very different...to convince themselves that they won this 4-day war," he said.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/operation-sindoor-how-made-in-india-weapons-led-the-charge-during-strikes-against-pakistan-9072040">Operation Sindoor: How made-in-India weapons led the charge during strikes against Pakistan</a>

Former Pentagon official said that India targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan with precision, adding that it was able to blunt Pakistan's response. WORLD india news

Days after India launched Operation Sindoor in retaliation to Pakistan's terror attack in Pahalgam, a former Pentagon official said that Pakistan went running to try to achieve a ceasefire like a "scared dog". Former Pentagon official Michael Rubin said that India targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) with precision, adding that it was able to blunt Pakistan's response. "India won this both diplomatically and militarily. The reason why India won diplomatically is that all attention is now on Pakistan's terrorist sponsorship, Rubin said, while speaking to the news agency ANI. Also read: 'Line of beggars begins wherever Pakistan stands': India's defence minister slams Pak for IMF bailouts amid crippling economy "Pakistan went running to try to achieve a ceasefire like a scared dog with its tail between its legs" after India put their airfields out of commission, Rubin said. He added that Pakistan cannot run away from the reality that it “lost very, very badly”. Also read: Turkey under fire for siding with Pakistan, Indian govt revokes security clearance for Turkey's Celebi Airport Services Pakistani army attending terrorists' funeral The official further noted that the Pakistani officials attended the funeral of terrorists, which shows that there is no difference between a terrorist and a member of Pakistani armed forces. "The fact that Pakistani officers in uniform attended the funeral of terrorists shows that there is no differentiation between a terrorist and a member of the ISI or the Pakistani armed forces. Basically, the world is going to demand that Pakistan extract the rot from its own system," he said. “Diplomatically, India changed the conversation, militarily, Pakistan is shocked,” he added. He continued to slam Pakistan and said that they every time start the war and yet convince themselves that somehow they won. "Pakistan has started every single war with India and yet convinced itself that somehow it has won. It's going to be very different...to convince themselves that they won this 4-day war," he said. Also read: Operation Sindoor: How made-in-India weapons led the charge during strikes against Pakistan

'Ran like a scared dog': Ex-Pentagon official slams Pakistan, says it 'lost very badly' and India won 'diplomatically, militarily'

The US military is now turning away from gender-affirming care and preparing to discharge transgender troops under direct orders from the White House.

Pentagon halts critical health care access for transgender troops

India has confirmed it successfully neutralised a wave of drone and missile attacks launched by Pakistan on Thursday (May 08) night. The targets included key military installations in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indo-pak-war-indian-cities-blackout-punjab-jammu-kashmir-rajasthan-gujarat-new-delhi-india-gate-indian-army-pakistans-drone-attacks-9049750">Jammu and Pathankot.</a> The attacks came just a day after India carried out Operation Sindoor, a military response to the deadly terror strike in Pahalgam.
<h2>Pentagon veteran slams Pakistan&rsquo;s Army Chief</h2>
In the wake of the failed strikes, former Pentagon official and American Enterprise Institute senior fellow Michael Rubin issued a sharp warning to Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indo-pak-war-can-pakistan-use-f-16s-against-india-operation-sindoor-pakistan-drone-attack-pahalgam-terror-attack-9050088" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Indo-Pak War: Can Pakistan use F-16s against India? Here&rsquo;s what the rules say</a>
&ldquo;Pakistan started the conflict with its support for terrorism. Indians were the victims of terrorism. While I was initially critical that Prime Minister Modi had taken so long to respond, but it's clear that the Indian military was carefully planning and the Indian military has shown itself to be far more capable,&rdquo; Rubin stated.
&ldquo;Pakistan is thrashing about, looking for a way to save face. But Asim Munir should understand that the first rule of hole digging is when you're in a hole, stop digging,&rdquo; Rubin added.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indo-pak-war-us-turkey-brazil-norway-world-reacts-to-pakistan-failed-drone-attack-india-operation-sindoor-india-pakistan-war-pahalgam-terror-attack-9049961" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Indo-Pak War | US 'not going to get involved'; Turkey 'concerned': World reacts to Pakistan&rsquo;s failed&nbsp;attack&nbsp;on&nbsp;India</a>
Looking ahead, Rubin called for strong diplomatic action, &ldquo;There can only be one metric by which we look at the diplomatic solution to this issue. Pakistan has to be designated by the United States to be a state sponsor of terror.&rdquo;
<h2>Unconfirmed reports of Army Chief Asim Munir&rsquo;s arrest</h2>
As Pakistan reels from the failed strike and criticism, reports circulating on social media suggest possible unrest within the country&rsquo;s military leadership. There are unconfirmed reports of Army Chief Asim Munir&rsquo;s potential arrest or removal, although none of these claims have been officially confirmed.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-pakistan-war-operation-sindoor-pakistan-eyes-in-the-sky-what-is-awacs-airborne-warning-and-control-systems-pak-drone-attack-9049701" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Indo-Pak War: What are AWACS aircraft? How many&nbsp;of these &lsquo;eyes in the sky&rsquo; are&nbsp;left&nbsp;with&nbsp;Pakistan?</a>

Pakistan: In the wake of the failed strikes, former Pentagon official and American Enterprise Institute senior fellow Michael Rubin issued a sharp warning to Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir. India news

India has confirmed it successfully neutralised a wave of drone and missile attacks launched by Pakistan on Thursday (May 08) night. The targets included key military installations in Jammu and Pathankot. The attacks came just a day after India carried out Operation Sindoor, a military response to the deadly terror strike in Pahalgam. Pentagon veteran slams Pakistan’s Army Chief In the wake of the failed strikes, former Pentagon official and American Enterprise Institute senior fellow Michael Rubin issued a sharp warning to Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir. Also read: Indo-Pak War: Can Pakistan use F-16s against India? Here’s what the rules say “Pakistan started the conflict with its support for terrorism. Indians were the victims of terrorism. While I was initially critical that Prime Minister Modi had taken so long to respond, but it's clear that the Indian military was carefully planning and the Indian military has shown itself to be far more capable,” Rubin stated. “Pakistan is thrashing about, looking for a way to save face. But Asim Munir should understand that the first rule of hole digging is when you're in a hole, stop digging,” Rubin added. Also read: Indo-Pak War | US 'not going to get involved'; Turkey 'concerned': World reacts to Pakistan’s failed attack on India Looking ahead, Rubin called for strong diplomatic action, “There can only be one metric by which we look at the diplomatic solution to this issue. Pakistan has to be designated by the United States to be a state sponsor of terror.” Unconfirmed reports of Army Chief Asim Munir’s arrest As Pakistan reels from the failed strike and criticism, reports circulating on social media suggest possible unrest within the country’s military leadership. There are unconfirmed reports of Army Chief Asim Munir’s potential arrest or removal, although none of these claims have been officially confirmed. Also read: Indo-Pak War: What are AWACS aircraft? How many of these ‘eyes in the sky’ are left with Pakistan?

Indo-Pak war | 'Stop digging': Ex-Pentagon official warns Asim Munir after India crushes Pakistan’s airstrike attempt

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday (April 29) said that he had "proudly" ended the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hostile-and-political-white-house-slams-jeff-bezos-over-amazons-move-to-show-trumps-tariffs-on-price-tags-9015831">Women</a>, Peace, and Security (WPS) program inside the US Department of Defence.
Hegseth claimed that the program is another "divisive, social justice Biden initiative that distracts troops from our core tasks, that is war fighting.&nbsp;
"This morning, I proudly ENDED the &ldquo;Women, Peace &amp; Security&rdquo; (WPS) program inside the @DeptofDefense. WPS is yet another woke divisive/social justice/Biden initiative that overburdens our commanders and troops &mdash; distracting from our core task: WAR-FIGHTING," Hegseth said in a social media post on X.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-ma2t644t-q5zwyhew-cstb24e6">
This morning, I proudly ENDED the &ldquo;Women, Peace &amp; Security&rdquo; (WPS) program inside the <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptofDefense?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DeptofDefense</a>. WPS is yet another woke divisive/social justice/Biden initiative that overburdens our commanders and troops &mdash; distracting from our core task: WAR-FIGHTING. WPS is a UNITED&hellip;
&mdash; Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteHegseth/status/1917203362396639518?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;He further claimed that the WPS is a United Nations program pushed by feminists and left-wing activists.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-army-drops-gendered-scoring-under-pete-hegseth-women-must-now-pass-same-tests-as-men-8990138">'Sex-neutral': US Army drops gendered scoring under Pete Hegseth - Women must now pass same&nbsp;tests&nbsp;as&nbsp;men</a>
"Politicians fawn over it; troops HATE it," the Pentagon chief said.&nbsp;
However, the program is under federal statute and can't be outright killed by Hegseth alone.&nbsp;
"DoD will hereby executive the minimum of WPS required by statute, and fight to end the program for our next budget. GOOD RIDDANCE WPS!," Hegseth said.&nbsp;
WATCH | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trumps-first-100-days-lowest-approval-ratings-for-any-us-president-in-70-years-9015686">Trump&rsquo;s First 100 Days: Lowest Approval Ratings For Any US President In 70 Years</a>
Hegseth's move to end the program is significant as US President Donald Trump signed the program into law in 2017 after it got support from multiple members of his current Cabinet while they were members of Congress.
On the contrary, US State Secretary Marco Rubio on April 1 lauded the WPS, saying that it was &ldquo;the first law passed by any country in the world focused on protecting women and promoting their participation in society.&rdquo;
The aim of the law was to promote the participation of women in all aspects of overseas conflict prevention, management and resolution, and post-conflict relief and recovery efforts.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-recalls-watching-cats-at-kennedy-centre-gorgeous-women-in-silk-tights-8871448">'Gorgeous women, men not so attractive': Trump recalls watching Cats at Kennedy Center in leaked audio</a>

Hegseth claimed that the program is another "divisive, social justice Biden initiative that distracts troops from our core tasks, that is war fighting. WORLD

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday (April 29) said that he had "proudly" ended the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) program inside the US Department of Defence. Hegseth claimed that the program is another "divisive, social justice Biden initiative that distracts troops from our core tasks, that is war fighting. "This morning, I proudly ENDED the “Women, Peace & Security” (WPS) program inside the @DeptofDefense. WPS is yet another woke divisive/social justice/Biden initiative that overburdens our commanders and troops — distracting from our core task: WAR-FIGHTING," Hegseth said in a social media post on X. This morning, I proudly ENDED the “Women, Peace & Security” (WPS) program inside the @DeptofDefense. WPS is yet another woke divisive/social justice/Biden initiative that overburdens our commanders and troops — distracting from our core task: WAR-FIGHTING. WPS is a UNITED… — Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) April 29, 2025 He further claimed that the WPS is a United Nations program pushed by feminists and left-wing activists. Also read: 'Sex-neutral': US Army drops gendered scoring under Pete Hegseth - Women must now pass same tests as men "Politicians fawn over it; troops HATE it," the Pentagon chief said. However, the program is under federal statute and can't be outright killed by Hegseth alone. "DoD will hereby executive the minimum of WPS required by statute, and fight to end the program for our next budget. GOOD RIDDANCE WPS!," Hegseth said. WATCH | Trump’s First 100 Days: Lowest Approval Ratings For Any US President In 70 Years Hegseth's move to end the program is significant as US President Donald Trump signed the program into law in 2017 after it got support from multiple members of his current Cabinet while they were members of Congress. On the contrary, US State Secretary Marco Rubio on April 1 lauded the WPS, saying that it was “the first law passed by any country in the world focused on protecting women and promoting their participation in society.” The aim of the law was to promote the participation of women in all aspects of overseas conflict prevention, management and resolution, and post-conflict relief and recovery efforts. Also read: 'Gorgeous women, men not so attractive': Trump recalls watching Cats at Kennedy Center in leaked audio

'GOOD RIDDANCE': Pete Hegseth 'proudly' ENDS women leadership program in US, claims it distracts troops from 'war fighting'

When the White House was looking for a replacement for the man holding the top job at the Pentagon, reports said that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the man at the center of the Signal Gate controversy, could be counting his days in office. Watch in for more details!

Signalgate controversy: Is Pete Hegseth on his way out?

The US broadcaster NPR has claimed White House has begun the process of looking for a new Pentagon chief to replace Pete Hegseth and this comes after media reports that Hegseth had shared some sensitive military information in a group chat that included his wife his brother and also his lawyer. Watch in for more details!

Is Trump planning to replace Pete Hegseth as Pentagon chief amid Signal chat leak scandal?

US Defence Secretary <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/pete-hegseth">Pete Hegseth</a> has responded to a reporter at the White House on Monday (Apr 21) following allegations of sharing sensitive military information with his wife, brother, and lawyer.
It is the second time the Pentagon chief has been accused of leaking confidential information about airstrikes on Yemen on the Signal messaging app to unauthorised people.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/signal-group-chat-leak-trumps-defense-secretary-hegseth-shared-details-of-yemen-attack-with-his-wife-and-family-8983897">Signal group chat leak: Trump's defence secretary Hegseth 'shared' details of Yemen attack with his wife and family</a>
&ldquo;This is what the media does. They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations,&rdquo; Hegseth said, adding, &ldquo;Not going to work with me.&rdquo;
Hegseth is facing increasing criticism with three ex-staffers and a former Pentagon press secretary calling for him to be removed from the position. Several Democratic lawmakers have also voiced similar views on Hegseth.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pentagon-students-sue-pete-hegseth-for-banning-these-books-8970077">Pentagon students sue Pete Hegseth for banning THESE books</a>
&ldquo;Trump&rsquo;s Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has now leaked classified military plans TWICE -- this time through a unsecured Signal chat on a personal device to friends and family. He's a walking national security disaster and needs to resign or be fired,&rdquo; Representative Jim McGovern said.
Senators Mark Warner, Andy Kim and Elissa Slotkin have also called for Hegseth to quit.
&ldquo;Our military and our country deserve serious leaders. If he cared about the institution he's leading, he should man up, acknowledge he's a distraction to the military's mission, and resign,&rdquo; said Slotkin.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-will-not-allow-chinese-influence-over-panama-canal-defense-secretary-hegseth-8940767">US &lsquo;will not allow&rsquo; Chinese influence over Panama Canal: Defense Secretary Hegseth</a>
However, US President Donald Trump has backed Hegseth, saying &ldquo;he&rsquo;s doing a great job&rdquo; and dismissed the reports, calling them &ldquo;fake news&rdquo;.
<h2>Signal chat leaks</h2>
Last month, The Atlantic magazine revealed that its editor-in-chief was added in a Signal chat where top Trump officials, including Hegseth and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, discussed the March 15 Yemen strikes. The incident sparked criticism of the Trump administration, prompting a Pentagon inspector general&rsquo;s probe into Hegseth&rsquo;s use of Signal.
Watch | Signal Gate 2.0: US Defence Secretary Hegseth Mired In Controversy
<iframe width="600" height="auto" style="width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 4/3;" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="external-video publive-iframes-block" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/screenshot/2104_DEFENCESECRETARY_8PM/00000002.jpg&amp;videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/2104_DEFENCESECRETARY_8PM.mp4/index.m3u8&amp;duration=466&amp;tags=US, World News, WION" title="Signal Gate 2.0: US Defence Secretary Hegseth Mired In Controversy " id="PL_iframe_block-m9rdb569-394za5g9-xl1wzkat"></iframe>
On Sunday (Apr 20), the New York Times and CNN reported that the Pentagon chief had shared information in another Signal group chat on the same strikes. Reportedly, the information disclosed by Hegseth included flight schedules for warplanes that targeted Yemen&rsquo;s Huthi rebels.
The reports citing anonymous sources added that the chat included his wife, Jennifer, a journalist and former Fox News producer. The group also included his brother Phil and lawyer Tim Parlatore, both of whom serve in roles at the Pentagon.
Last week, three senior officials were removed amid the ongoing investigations into the alleged leaks.

It is the second time the Pentagon chief has been accused of leaking confidential information about airstrikes on Yemen on the Signal messaging app to unauthorised people. World | Trending

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has responded to a reporter at the White House on Monday (Apr 21) following allegations of sharing sensitive military information with his wife, brother, and lawyer. It is the second time the Pentagon chief has been accused of leaking confidential information about airstrikes on Yemen on the Signal messaging app to unauthorised people. Also read | Signal group chat leak: Trump's defence secretary Hegseth 'shared' details of Yemen attack with his wife and family “This is what the media does. They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations,” Hegseth said, adding, “Not going to work with me.” Hegseth is facing increasing criticism with three ex-staffers and a former Pentagon press secretary calling for him to be removed from the position. Several Democratic lawmakers have also voiced similar views on Hegseth. Also read | Pentagon students sue Pete Hegseth for banning THESE books “Trump’s Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has now leaked classified military plans TWICE -- this time through a unsecured Signal chat on a personal device to friends and family. He's a walking national security disaster and needs to resign or be fired,” Representative Jim McGovern said. Senators Mark Warner, Andy Kim and Elissa Slotkin have also called for Hegseth to quit. “Our military and our country deserve serious leaders. If he cared about the institution he's leading, he should man up, acknowledge he's a distraction to the military's mission, and resign,” said Slotkin. Also read | US ‘will not allow’ Chinese influence over Panama Canal: Defense Secretary Hegseth However, US President Donald Trump has backed Hegseth, saying “he’s doing a great job” and dismissed the reports, calling them “fake news”. Signal chat leaks Last month, The Atlantic magazine revealed that its editor-in-chief was added in a Signal chat where top Trump officials, including Hegseth and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, discussed the March 15 Yemen strikes. The incident sparked criticism of the Trump administration, prompting a Pentagon inspector general’s probe into Hegseth’s use of Signal. Watch | Signal Gate 2.0: US Defence Secretary Hegseth Mired In Controversy On Sunday (Apr 20), the New York Times and CNN reported that the Pentagon chief had shared information in another Signal group chat on the same strikes. Reportedly, the information disclosed by Hegseth included flight schedules for warplanes that targeted Yemen’s Huthi rebels. The reports citing anonymous sources added that the chat included his wife, Jennifer, a journalist and former Fox News producer. The group also included his brother Phil and lawyer Tim Parlatore, both of whom serve in roles at the Pentagon. Last week, three senior officials were removed amid the ongoing investigations into the alleged leaks.

Leak, deny, repeat? Pete Hegseth accused of sharing military secrets with wife; dismisses reports

Officials at the US Defense Digital Service (DDS), the Pentagon's elite tech unit, are resigning over the next month after clashing with Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).&nbsp;
Almost every staffer at the DDS will resign in the coming month, the program&rsquo;s director Jennifer Hay and three other current members of the office said.&nbsp;
&ldquo;The best way to put it, I think, is either we die quickly or we die slowly,&rdquo; Hay said, according to a Politico report. She is planning to leave by May 1.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musks-doge-falsely-lists-6100-migrants-as-dead-in-social-security-death-master-file-8958311">'Devastating, illegal&rsquo;: Elon Musk's DOGE falsely lists 6100 migrants as dead in Social Security &lsquo;death file&rsquo;</a>
The unit, dubbed as the Pentagon's "SWAT team of nerds", was created in 2015, with an aim to modernise defence operations with fast tech fixes and digital tools for the military.&nbsp;
It has also built rapid response tools for the military during the Afghanistan withdrawal, databases to transfer Ukrainian military and humanitarian aid, drone detection technologies and more.
Also, DDS was one of the department's earlier efforts to inject Silicon Valley ethos into its massive bureaucracy.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/elon-musk-tesla-china-orders-frozen-musk-feels-pain-of-trump-tariff-war-why-is-china-big-for-musk-evs-and-lithium-batteries-8950911">Elon Musk's Tesla freezes orders in China: DOGE chief is feeling the pinch of 'boss' Trump's tariff war</a>
Moreover, the resignations by the team will effectively shut down the decade-old program after the end of April.
Along with Hay, eleven other employees are planning to take Trump's deferred resignation package by then. The two remaining staffers are also leaving.
Hay said her staff initially expected to be part of Musk&rsquo;s efforts to automate the Pentagon&rsquo;s operations and adopt AI.
&ldquo;The reason we stuck it out as long as we have is that we thought we were going to be called in,&rdquo; said Hay.
However, instead of this, they were sidelined by DOGE's efforts.&nbsp;
One former senior Pentagon official, on the condition of anonymity, described DOGE&rsquo;s wider incursion into the Defense Department as damaging and unproductive.&nbsp;
WATCH | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/as-elon-musk-completes-100-days-as-doge-head-us-citizens-review-his-performance-8940888">As Elon Musk completes 100 days as Doge head, US citizens review his performance</a>
&ldquo;They&rsquo;re not really using AI, they&rsquo;re not really driving efficiency. What they&rsquo;re doing is smashing everything,&rdquo; the former official said.
Meanwhile, not just DDS, the US Digital Service, which helped the government modernise its technology and attract tech talent, has now been subsumed by DOGE.&nbsp;
Moreover, a program called 18F, a technology unit within the GSA, was also eliminated by DOGE.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shame-on-you-trump-americans-gather-for-hands-off-protest-against-us-president-musk-say-dont-be-doge-bag-8930270">'Shame on you Trump': Americans gather for 'Hands Off' protest against US president, Musk; say 'don't&nbsp;be&nbsp;DOGE&nbsp;BAG'</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

Almost every staffer at the DDS will resign in the coming month, the program’s director Jennifer Hay and three other current members of the office said. WORLD

Officials at the US Defense Digital Service (DDS), the Pentagon's elite tech unit, are resigning over the next month after clashing with Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Almost every staffer at the DDS will resign in the coming month, the program’s director Jennifer Hay and three other current members of the office said. “The best way to put it, I think, is either we die quickly or we die slowly,” Hay said, according to a Politico report. She is planning to leave by May 1. Also read: 'Devastating, illegal’: Elon Musk's DOGE falsely lists 6100 migrants as dead in Social Security ‘death file’ The unit, dubbed as the Pentagon's "SWAT team of nerds", was created in 2015, with an aim to modernise defence operations with fast tech fixes and digital tools for the military. It has also built rapid response tools for the military during the Afghanistan withdrawal, databases to transfer Ukrainian military and humanitarian aid, drone detection technologies and more. Also, DDS was one of the department's earlier efforts to inject Silicon Valley ethos into its massive bureaucracy. Also read: Elon Musk's Tesla freezes orders in China: DOGE chief is feeling the pinch of 'boss' Trump's tariff war Moreover, the resignations by the team will effectively shut down the decade-old program after the end of April. Along with Hay, eleven other employees are planning to take Trump's deferred resignation package by then. The two remaining staffers are also leaving. Hay said her staff initially expected to be part of Musk’s efforts to automate the Pentagon’s operations and adopt AI. “The reason we stuck it out as long as we have is that we thought we were going to be called in,” said Hay. However, instead of this, they were sidelined by DOGE's efforts. One former senior Pentagon official, on the condition of anonymity, described DOGE’s wider incursion into the Defense Department as damaging and unproductive. WATCH | As Elon Musk completes 100 days as Doge head, US citizens review his performance “They’re not really using AI, they’re not really driving efficiency. What they’re doing is smashing everything,” the former official said. Meanwhile, not just DDS, the US Digital Service, which helped the government modernise its technology and attract tech talent, has now been subsumed by DOGE. Moreover, a program called 18F, a technology unit within the GSA, was also eliminated by DOGE. Also read: 'Shame on you Trump': Americans gather for 'Hands Off' protest against US president, Musk; say 'don't be DOGE BAG' (With inputs from agencies)

'Either we die quickly or slowly': Pentagon's 'SWAT team of nerds' resigns over clashes with Musk's DOGE

New tariffs introduced by US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> could pose a serious threat to the country&rsquo;s defence industry, potentially harming international military projects and pushing up the cost of producing weapons, Politico reported.
Trump announced a wide-reaching list of &ldquo;reciprocal tariffs&rdquo; on 2 April, setting a standard 10% duty on all countries with higher rates imposed on key partners like the European Union. 
<h2>How will new tariffs affect US weapon production?</h2>
The new tariffs could disrupt long-standing international defence cooperation, with experts warning that joint projects like the F-35 fighter jet, missile defence systems, and nuclear submarines could be affected.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vietnam-first-to-fall-in-face-off-trump-tariffs-will-other-countries-follow-8926949" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Vietnam first to fall in face off Trump tariffs. Will other countries follow?</a>
The duties, which include a 20% levy on EU goods and 10% on imports from the UK and Australia, risk destabilising defence partnerships that have taken years to build.
The F-35 jet programme, which includes 20 nations and was designed to give partners a role in manufacturing, could face major delays. Other critical collaborations with countries such as Norway and Israel are also in question.
These projects are seen as vital for defence in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, particularly as tensions rise with Russia and China.&ldquo;There&rsquo;s going to be shortages of supplies, tit-for-tats, and our allies and other partners are going to retaliate,&rdquo; warned Bill Greenwalt, a former Pentagon acquisition official told Politico.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-says-its-a-great-time-to-get-rich-as-3-trillion-wiped-from-markets-after-tariffs-8926904" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">&lsquo;My policies will never change&rsquo;: Trump says it&rsquo;s a &lsquo;great time to get rich&rsquo; as $3 trillion wiped from markets after tariffs</a>
&ldquo;Some potentially vital supplies are either going to cost a whole heck of a lot more than what they did, or they&rsquo;re just not going to be available,&rdquo; he added.
The US Department of Defense has spent decades creating a complex global supply chain for military manufacturing, much of which is now caught up in the new tariffs.
&ldquo;We count on the US for the best equipment,&rdquo; a European official told Politico. 
&ldquo;European industrial capacity has greatly improved, and we want to be security providers, not just consumers,&rdquo; the official added.
The official also said Europe may now invest more in local production to reduce reliance on US parts and materials.
US Senator Mark Kelly also raised concerns, saying, &ldquo;The prices are going to go up, and the prices that DOD has to pay are going to go up.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Our defence budget, if we want to maintain the same type of force, will get more expensive,&rdquo; he added.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hands-off-protests-anti-trump-demonstrations-to-be-held-across-us-tomorrow-everything-you-need-to-know-8926838">'Hands Off' protests: Anti-Trump demonstrations to be held across US tomorrow | Everything you need to know</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Trump announced a wide-reaching list of “reciprocal tariffs” on 2 April, setting a standard 10% duty on all countries with higher rates imposed on key partners like the European Union.

New tariffs introduced by US President Donald Trump could pose a serious threat to the country’s defence industry, potentially harming international military projects and pushing up the cost of producing weapons, Politico reported. Trump announced a wide-reaching list of “reciprocal tariffs” on 2 April, setting a standard 10% duty on all countries with higher rates imposed on key partners like the European Union. How will new tariffs affect US weapon production? The new tariffs could disrupt long-standing international defence cooperation, with experts warning that joint projects like the F-35 fighter jet, missile defence systems, and nuclear submarines could be affected. Also read: Vietnam first to fall in face off Trump tariffs. Will other countries follow? The duties, which include a 20% levy on EU goods and 10% on imports from the UK and Australia, risk destabilising defence partnerships that have taken years to build. The F-35 jet programme, which includes 20 nations and was designed to give partners a role in manufacturing, could face major delays. Other critical collaborations with countries such as Norway and Israel are also in question. These projects are seen as vital for defence in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, particularly as tensions rise with Russia and China.“There’s going to be shortages of supplies, tit-for-tats, and our allies and other partners are going to retaliate,” warned Bill Greenwalt, a former Pentagon acquisition official told Politico. Also read: ‘My policies will never change’: Trump says it’s a ‘great time to get rich’ as $3 trillion wiped from markets after tariffs “Some potentially vital supplies are either going to cost a whole heck of a lot more than what they did, or they’re just not going to be available,” he added. The US Department of Defense has spent decades creating a complex global supply chain for military manufacturing, much of which is now caught up in the new tariffs. “We count on the US for the best equipment,” a European official told Politico. “European industrial capacity has greatly improved, and we want to be security providers, not just consumers,” the official added. The official also said Europe may now invest more in local production to reduce reliance on US parts and materials. US Senator Mark Kelly also raised concerns, saying, “The prices are going to go up, and the prices that DOD has to pay are going to go up.” “Our defence budget, if we want to maintain the same type of force, will get more expensive,” he added. Also read: 'Hands Off' protests: Anti-Trump demonstrations to be held across US tomorrow | Everything you need to know (With inputs from agencies)

'Pentagon will pay': Did Trump shoot US weapon production in foot with reciprocal tariffs? F-35, NATO partnerships at risk

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