politics

Congress Seeks Review of New Missions for Open Skies Planes

Dec. 11, 2020 | By Rachel S. Cohen
As the United States closes out its participation in the 1992 Open Skies Treaty, some in government are starting to consider what might come next for the Air Force unit that has handled those foreign surveillance flights for decades. Lawmakers earlier this month released a ...

USAF Space Adviser Eyes Spring Exit from Top Job

Dec. 10, 2020 | By Rachel S. Cohen
A top space policy official in the Department of the Air Force said Dec. 10 he plans to serve in his role until next spring, unless the Trump or Biden administrations nominate someone to fill his post sooner. Shawn Barnes is performing the duties of ...

Biden Calls for Swift Confirmation of Defense Secretary Pick

Dec. 9, 2020 | By Rachel S. Cohen
President-elect Joe Biden called on Congress to “swiftly” confirm Lloyd J. Austin III as the next Defense Secretary, rebutting concerns that his plan to nominate the recently retired Army general chips away at civilian control of the military. Introducing Austin at a Dec. 9 event ...

Draft NDAA Refuses to Fund Armed Overwatch Program

Dec. 9, 2020 | By Rachel S. Cohen
Lawmakers want to quash the prospect of buying new armed overwatch planes for special operations troops or the Air Force in the next few years, as part of the final draft of the 2021 defense policy bill released this month. They seek to block SOCOM ...