Defense Budgets / Policy

The Defense Department leans on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for weather data across the force, from ship routing to flight safety. Planned reductions to NOAA’s next-generation satellite portfolio now put that pipeline at risk, with direct knock-on effects to the Space Force and combatant commands that rely on those feeds every day.

Japan’s defense ministry handed the finance ministry its fiscal-2026 request on 29 August, asking for a record ¥8.8 trillion (about $59.9 billion). If lawmakers sign off later this year, spending will climb roughly eight percent over the current budget and push Tokyo closer to its goal of devoting two percent of GDP to defense by 2027.

WASHINGTON – Congress returns on Sept. 2 with 28 days before FY25 funds expire on Sept. 30. The House already passed its FY26 Defense Appropriations Act (H.R. 4016) in July. On July 31, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved its own FY26 defense bill and cleared three non-defense measures on the floor. Senate leaders also set Sept. 2 for the first vote to proceed to the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act. Staff on both sides expect a short term continuing resolution in September to keep the government open while talks continue.

The U.S. Air Force on Aug. 25 released three Aircraft Accident Investigation Board reports on the KC-46A. Each cites the same failure: the Pegasus boom stuck in a receiver’s receptacle-“nozzle binding.” Investigators linked the binding to the tanker’s long-standing “stiff boom” issue and to crew actions under breakaway. The mishaps occurred Oct. 15, 2022; Nov. 7, 2022; and Aug. 21, 2024. All crews landed safely. Estimated damage across the three events: about $22.8 million.

Air Force Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach has emerged as a leading contender to succeed Gen. David W. Allvin as chief of staff, according to industry sources and officials briefed on the discussions. Allvin announced on Aug. 18 that he intends to retire on or about Nov. 1 after roughly two years in the job. The White House has not named a nominee yet. The Senate will need to confirm any selection before a handover occurs.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung is heading to Washington on August 25 for his first face-to-face with U.S. President Donald Trump since winning June’s snap election. The two leaders are expected to strengthen the 72-year-old defense alliance and wrap up a July trade deal that lowers U.S. tariffs on Korean goods to 15%. That agreement also sets the stage for at least $350 billion in South Korean investment and $100 billion in U.S. energy exports.

The U.S. Air Force has ordered a service-wide, 100% inspection of all M18 sidearms after a 21-year-old Security Forces airman died on July 20 at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. The move expands a previously announced pause inside Air Force Global Strike Command and applies across the force while investigators examine the circumstances that led to the fatal discharge. Defense officials confirm that commanders have prioritized immediate safety checks and temporary substitutions where needed to sustain mission coverage. 

Germany has passed a new law to speed up military spending. On July 23, the cabinet approved the Bundeswehr Procurement Acceleration Act. It now heads to the Bundestag, where coalition leaders expect a vote by the end of August. The law will stay in place until 2035 and will take the place of a more limited fast-track measure passed back in 2022.

The U.S. Army has chosen Anduril Industries to head up a tech team that’s building the next-gen command-and-control system. Officials confirmed the Army awarded a $99.6 million Other Transaction Authority agreement on July 18. The effort is centered on the 4th Infantry Division. The deal covers the integration, testing, and refining of hardware, software, and soldier-facing apps. The goal is to deliver in less than 12 months, signaling a push for faster rollout of digital tools.