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Politico
41 minutes ago
- Business
- Politico
‘Shooting themselves in the foot': Pentagon officials outraged by DOD think tank ban
She added that 'the only thing that suffers in this process are ticket sales for organizations that are largely America Last.' While Aspen and other conferences outside the capital are ticketed, think tank events in Washington are often free and open to the public. The new policy is already leading to bureaucratic kerfluffles. A select group of top Washington think tankers got a routine invitation last Tuesday: How would they like to join a video call with the outgoing top U.S. general in Africa? Just 48 hours later, they received a note that Africa Command chief Gen. Michael Langley had canceled with no explanation. A defense official said it was halted so as to not appear out of step with the new rules. The idea for the halt, according to one of the defense officials, was sped along by the Pentagon's realization that multiple employees, including Navy Secretary John Phelan, were heading to the Aspen summit. The organization and the other forum attendees were not ideologically aligned with the president's American First agenda, they felt, so the Pentagon pulled its participation. 'It is absolutely to control who says what, where, and when,' said the official. Defense Department officials have historically attended roundtables to explain emerging defense policies. Foreign allies worry about losing that big-picture view, especially as the Pentagon makes decisions that catch them off guard — such as pausing military aid to Ukraine and conducting a review of a major submarine deal with Australia and the U.K. 'Meetings with the Pentagon are difficult to book, so losing public events where we can glean some details about military policy will have a big effect on us,' a NATO diplomat said. The ban will also limit the ability of tech start-ups to understand the Pentagon's priorities and build the weapons of the future, a defense industry executive said. Many of these companies struggle to get access to DOD officials. Pentagon speaking requests also now have to be approved by the building's general counsel, the policy team, and Hegseth's press shop. Previously, only the individual command needed to approve the request. The new rules have already led the Navy to bar the service's top official for research, development, and acquisition, Jason Potter, from participating in a conservative-leaning Hudson Institute event on shipbuilding, according to two people familiar with the matter. There wasn't enough time to go through the new approvals process. The Pentagon used to pay member fees for the Council on Foreign Relations and slotted military fellows at think tanks such as the Center for Strategic and International Studies. But that would appear to clash with the new rules. Some employees wondered whether the Pentagon would still pay for their advanced degrees at universities considered more liberal, such as the Harvard Kennedy School or Princeton's School of Public and International Affairs. The Halifax International Security Forum, one of the events explicitly targeted by the ban, hoped the Pentagon would change course. 'Halifax International Security Forum has provided a non-partisan venue to strengthen cooperation between the U.S. and its democratic allies,' said Peter Van Praagh, the founder and president of the forum. 'When these alliances are nourished, America is stronger and Americans are safer. When these alliances are not nourished, Americans at home and American troops abroad are less safe.' Nick Taylor-Vaisey contributed to this report.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hegseth reassigns first female Naval Academy head
Navy Vice Adm. Yvette Davids, the first female to serve as superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy is being reassigned, the Defense Department announced Friday. Davids was instead tapped to serve as deputy chief of naval operations, plans, strategy and warfighting development, according to a press release. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Michael J. Borgschulte was named to lead the Naval Academy in her place — making him the first Marine to lead the institution. 'The Naval Academy remains one of the most consequential institutions in American public life. It forges leaders of character, men and women of integrity, resilience, and intellect who will guide our Fleet and our Nation through the challenges of an increasingly contested world,' Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan said in a statement. 'Lt. Gen. Borgschulte is uniquely prepared to lead the next generations of naval and marine officers and ensure they are ready for the future fight,' Phelan added. Superintendents at the Naval Academy are there for at least three years typically, but the stint can be shorter. Davids, a 1989 graduate of the academy in Annapolis, Md., had been the leader of the institution since January 2024. Her reassignment, which was first reported by USNI News, comes as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has overseen the shake-up of top military leaders. Trump removed Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. C.Q. Brown Jr. in February and nominated Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan 'Razin' Caine, who was eventually confirmed by the Senate for the role. The administration also fired chief of naval operations Adm. Lisa M. Franchetti, who was the first woman to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Trump also removed Adm. Linda Fagan, the first female U.S. Coast Guard commandant. Phelan congratulated Davids on her appointment, adding that she commanded 'at every level and has led with distinction in some of the most complex security environments of our time.' 'Her strategic vision and operational depth will be an exceptional asset to the Navy and the Department of Defense,' Phelan said. Davids said in a statement that she was honored to be nominated to her new role. 'I look forward to continuing to serve alongside America's strongest warfighters,' she wrote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
New York Times
14-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Pentagon Abruptly Pulls Out of Annual Aspen Conference
Every summer for years, Republican and Democratic administrations have dispatched senior civilian Pentagon officials and military commanders to participate in the Aspen Security Forum, a national security and foreign policy conference in Colorado. This year appeared to be no exception, with John Phelan, the Navy secretary, and Adm. Samuel Paparo, the head of the military's Indo-Pacific Command, among the speakers scheduled to address the gathering that begins on Tuesday. But on Monday morning, the Pentagon abruptly canceled its participation in the four-day event, saying the forum's values did not align with the Pentagon's. 'Senior representatives of the Department of Defense will no longer be participating in an event that promotes the evil of globalism, disdain for our great country and hatred for the president of the United States,' Kingsley Wilson, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said in a statement. Sean Parnell, the chief Pentagon spokesman, said in a separate statement: 'The department will remain strong in its focus to increase the lethality of our war fighters, revitalize the warrior ethos and project peace through strength on the world stage. It is clear the A.S.F. is not in alignment with these goals.' It was unclear what precipitated the Pentagon's decision to withdrawal its speakers, all of whom had been approved to participate. Mrs. Wilson declined to comment on the timing of the decision. 'It is unfortunate that the Pentagon has chosen not to participate, but our invitations remain open,' the security forum said in a statement. 'For more than a decade, the Aspen Security Forum has welcomed senior officials — Republican and Democrat, civilian and military — as well as senior foreign officials and experts, who bring experience and diverse perspectives on matters of national security.'
Fox News
19-06-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Navy recruitment 'skyrockets' under Trump's leadership, official says
Print Close By Sophia Compton, Liz Friden Published June 18, 2025 The U.S. Navy has achieved its fiscal year 2025 recruiting goal three months ahead of schedule, positioning the maritime service branch to send more than 40,000 future Sailors to basic training by the end of the summer. "More qualified and motivated Americans than ever are stepping forward and answering the call to serve their country," Secretary of the Navy John Phelan said in a statement. "The world is more complex and contested than it has been in decades, and our ability to respond starts with our greatest asset, our people." ARMY SURPASSES FISCAL 2025 RECRUITING GOAL 4 MONTHS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE The Navy — which reached its recruiting goal on Wednesday after contracting 40,600 future sailors — has been focused on connecting with "qualified" and "motivated" candidates across the U.S. The sea service's increase in recruits can be attributed to President Donald Trump's leadership as well as the dedication of the U.S. Navy's recruiters, according to Phelan. "Since November, Navy recruiting has skyrocketed," he said. TRUMP'S REVAMPED COAST GUARD SURGES WITH 'SKYROCKETING' RECRUITING TO SECURE MARITIME BORDERS: DHS MEMO To raise its recruitment numbers, the Navy Recruiting Command established a Recruiting Operations Center to monitor data in real time. The maritime service branch also streamlined medical waiver reviews and improved the productivity of recruiters by identifying and removing barriers, among other efforts, according to the Navy. While the military branch has already surpassed its recruitment goal, the Navy continues to process applicants. "Reaching our annual goal this early is a testament to the dedication and innovation of our recruiting force," Rear Adm. Jim Waters, commander of Navy Recruiting Command, said in a statement. "It shows that when we remove barriers, accelerate processes, and meet people where they are, the right individuals answer the call." NAVY TORPEDOES BIDEN-ERA CLIMATE AGENDA TO FOCUS ON LETHALITY In 2024, the Navy surpassed its recruiting goal of 40,600 by 378 recruits, marking its largest recruiting class in more than two decades, according to the U.S. Navy. The Navy's recruiting success this year follows a similar announcement earlier this month from the U.S. Army, in which the branch announced it had surpassed its fiscal year 2025 recruiting goals four months ahead of schedule. The Army signed contracts with more than 61,000 future soldiers, a more than 10% increase from the 55,000 recruits targeted in fiscal year 2024. Last month, the U.S. Coast Guard also reported a surge in recruitment numbers. In FY 2025, the Coast Guard has recruited more than 4,700 new members, which is 1,200 more than it had at the same time last year. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The U.S. Navy did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Print Close URL
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
US Navy bans dog and cat experiments following White Coat Waste Project advocacy
White Coat Waste Project uncovered a $10 Navy-funded lab that was performing painful experiments on cats, some of which were already disabled. The experiments involved tests and electroshocking experiments on the cats as a part of strange and disturbing research on things like constipation and erectile problems. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now After their relentless investigation and public campaign, the US Navy has officially announced a ban on all experiments involving dogs and cats. With this, a very painful chapter of government-funded abuse comes to an end. According to WAN, the White Coast investigators uncovered the barbaric practices, exposing them to the public through international media outlets. The shocking news led to a huge response from regular people all over the country, including concerned taxpayers, animal lovers, and pet owners US Navy permanently ends dog and cat testing after activist pressure Anthony Bellotti, President and Founder of White Coat Waste, told WAN 'White Coat Waste didn't just shut down this one cat crippling lab—we ended all future dog and cat testing by the Navy, for good. As someone who's proudly adopted several cat survivors who were rescued after White Coat Waste shut down their labs, this victory is deeply personal. Knowing that no more puppies or kittens will suffer behind Navy lab doors makes this a defining moment in the movement to end animal testing. ' 'We're grateful to Secretary John Phelan, Pete Hegseth, and the Trump Administration for this policy. Pets are family. For too long, beloved dogs and cats were abused in secretive government labs. That era is ending—because White Coat Waste is ending it. The solution is simple: Stop the Money. Stop the Madness,' added Bellotti. PETA reacts to the initiative for animals by White Coast Waste members According to the reports, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) penned a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Navy Secretary John Phelan, thanking the Trump administration for its ban on Navy-funded dog and cat experiments and requesting a broader ban on all animal testing in all the military branches. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now PETA Vice President Shalin Gala wrote in a statement, "PETA appreciates the Trump administration's decision to stop the Navy's torture tests on dogs and cats, and we urge a broader ban across the Pentagon to end the use of animals in Navy-funded decompression sickness and oxygen toxicity tests, Army-funded weapon-wounding tests and DOD-funded foreign experiments. PETA further urged the Department of Defense to conduct a similar comprehensive, agency-wide audit aimed at rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in cruel and outdated animal experimentation A major win for the innocents For the public and members of the White Coat Waste team who have adopted rescued animals from closed-down government labs, this mission is very personal. Knowing that no more puppies or kittens will suffer behind Navy lab doors marks a powerful and emotional victory. With this major win, we must continue to push for the end of animal testing nationwide, once and for all.
