Sen. James Webb (D-Va.) said he’s had it with Pentagon leaders rendering major decisions about the size and shape of US armed forces without, apparently, the benefit of adequate data to back up their choices. Moreover, when members of Congress ask for data and explanations, they get evasive answers or none at all, he asserted. “There’s a lot of slow rolling going on . . . and it needs to stop,” Webb told defense reporters Wednesday in Washington, D.C. There has to be “balance” in the system between Administration decisions and Congress’ approval, said Webb. That’s why he said he has put a hold on Pentagon nominations until he gets some answers—specifically about the decision to axe US Joint Forces Command, which is headquartered in Norfolk, Va.
Concerned about how artificial intelligence might be used to generate target lists or operational plans, lawmakers want to expand limits on autonomous weapons to address mission planning and target selection. The House Armed Services Committee's version of the 2027 National Defense Authorization bill would direct the Pentagon to revise Defense…