Latest U.S. Department of Defense News

Defense has rested without ex-President Donald Trump taking the witness stand in his New York hush money trial

May. 21, 2024 10:24 AM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — Defense has rested without ex-President Donald Trump taking the witness stand in his New York hush money trial.

Pentagon vows to keep weapons moving to Ukraine as Kyiv faces a renewed assault by Russia

May. 20, 2024 16:44 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin committed Monday to keeping U.S. weapons moving to Ukraine as Kyiv faces one of its toughest moments against a renewed assault by Russia. Austin and as many as 50 defense leaders from Europe and around the world met Monday to...

US troops, equipment will depart from Niger by mid-September, the Pentagon says

May. 19, 2024 16:33 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. troops ordered out of Niger by the West African country's ruling junta will complete their withdrawal by the middle of September, the Pentagon and Nigerien defense officials said Sunday. The timeline was the product of four days of talks between the...

Sexual assaults are down in the US military. Here's what to know about the numbers

May. 16, 2024 18:21 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pentagon officials are cautiously optimistic that an overall decline in reported sexual assaults among active-duty service members and the military academies suggests that leaders are finally getting a handle on what has been a persistent problem. “The...

Aid for Gaza will soon flow from pier project just finished by US military, Pentagon says

May. 16, 2024 18:08 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon said Thursday that humanitarian aid will soon begin flowing onto the Gaza shore through the new pier that was anchored to the beach and will begin reaching those in need almost immediately. Sabrina Singh, Pentagon spokeswoman, told reporters that the...

Reported sex assaults in the US military have dropped. That reverses what had been a growing problem

May. 15, 2024 22:24 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of reported sexual assaults across the military decreased last year, and a confidential survey found a 19% drop in the number of service members who said they had experienced some type of unwanted sexual contact, according to new figures obtained by The Associated...

Military hearing officer deciding whether to recommend court-martial for Pentagon leaker

May. 14, 2024 16:52 PM EDT

BEDFORD, Massachusetts (AP) — A Massachusetts Air National Guard member who pleaded guilty in March to federal crimes for leaking highly classified military documents appeared Tuesday before a military hearing officer who will recommend whether the guardsman should face a court-martial. ...

Arrested US soldier to be held for two months in Russia on theft charges

May. 07, 2024 16:13 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Army soldier arrested in Russia last week was being held in a pretrial detention facility, the Army said Tuesday. Russian reports said he would be held for two months pending an investigation. Staff Sgt. Gordon Black flew to Vladivostok, a Pacific port...

Russian trainers move to a Niger airbase where some US troops remain

May. 03, 2024 11:19 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Russia has moved some troops onto an airbase in Niger where a small number of U.S. forces remain, but Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he doesn't see it as a significant issue. Most American troops left that base in the nation's capital, Niamey, a U.S. official said. ...

US military ships are working to build a pier for Gaza aid. It's going to cost at least $320 million

Apr. 30, 2024 08:06 AM EDT

JERUSALEM (AP) — A U.S. Navy ship and several Army vessels involved in an American-led effort to bring more aid into the besieged Gaza Strip are offshore of the enclave and building out a floating platform for the operation that the Pentagon has said will cost at least $320 million. ...