Lawmakers are preparing their aerospace priorities for the fiscal 2021 defense policy bill, in which the Air Force hopes to see an endorsement of its modernization-heavy, $154.6 billion budget request. One provision that could have big ripple effects for the service is a push to remove “pass-through” funding from the Air Force’s budget, which critics say makes it seem larger in comparison to the other services. After the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act green-lit USAF priorities, like creating a Space Force and starting the F-15EX program, some lawmakers have a similar set of interests for this year’s legislation.

The number of sexual assault reports in the Air Force increased 9 percent in fiscal 2019 from the year before—the “greatest number of reports” received since the service’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program launched 14 years ago. The Air Force received a total of 1,683 reports in 2019, including 1,161 unrestricted and 522 restricted reports. "The increase in reports could be for multiple reasons, but ultimately it demonstrates that victims trust the Air Force's processes enough to feel comfortable enough to report," states the executive summary to the Air Force addendum of the 2019 Department of Defense Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military.

A new report by RAND Corp. argues the national security space enterprise would benefit from having three launch providers offering heavy lift services over the next few years, before downsizing to two to meet the Space Force’s long-term needs. RAND believes that as the United States makes up a smaller share of the global heavy lift market, commercial companies will turn to other countries with new rockets better suited to heavy launch. American launch providers would then need to turn to the Space Force’s National Security Space Launch program for work.

The Defense Department will look at ways to shift funding toward COVID-19 response, though the Pentagon’s head of acquisition said the department’s flexibility is limited without action from Capitol Hill. Some lawmakers have called on the Pentagon to use its budget for coronavirus response, and not seek additional relief in future recovery stimulus funding. While there is potential for the department to shift operations and maintenance funding for COVID-19 response, Congress is already strict about authorizing money for military missions, Ellen Lord, the under secretary for acquisition, told reporters April 30. “We do have significant needs in terms of readiness and modernization in order to perform our primary mission, which is national security,” Lord said. “So we will look at that.”

The Air Force has consolidated three special warfare officer jobs into one specialty code in an effort to streamline resourcing, talent management, and deployments, the service announced April 30. Special tactics, tactical air control party officers, and combat rescue officers will now be assigned the Air Force Special Warfare AFSC 19ZXX, effective immediately. Previously, the officers were under the command and control AFSC. “The creation of a cadre of officers steeped in joint leadership and trained to lead the full spectrum of AFSPECWAR conventional and special operations missions will streamline accession, selection, and common skills training,” said Col. Thomas Palenske, director of the AFSPECWAR directorate at the Pentagon.

“Military Makeover with Montel,” a television series that airs on both the Lifetime channel and the American Forces Network, has partnered with World Wrestling Entertainment to search for a deserving service member or veteran to receive a home-renovation and appear on the show in 2021. Now through May 31, individuals may nominate qualifying troops or vets—including themselves—by visiting the “Tag a Hero” campaign homepage and filling out an application.