Latest Lloyd Austin News

Senate confirms chairman of joint chiefs as GOP senator still blocking hundreds of military nominees
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Gen. CQ Brown as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, putting him in place to succeed Gen. Mark Milley when he retires at the end of the month. Brown's confirmation on a 83-11 vote, months after President Joe Biden...

US defense chief urges nations to dig deep and give Ukraine more much-needed air defense systems
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urged allied defense leaders Tuesday to “dig deep" and provide more air defense systems for Ukraine to help it block increasing barrages of Russian missiles, even as debate grows in Congress over aid to Kyiv. But...

North Korean arms for Russia probably wouldn't make a big difference in the Ukraine war, Milley says
OSLO, Norway (AP) — North Korea may be able to boost Russia's supply of artillery munitions for the war in Ukraine, but that is not likely to make a big difference, the top American military officer said as he arrived in Norway for NATO meetings that began Saturday and will focus in part on the...

Military officers begin to speak out on the harm done by Sen. Tuberville's holds on promotions
WASHINGTON (AP) — In the months since a single senator froze military promotions over the Pentagon’s abortion policy, the uniformed officers affected have been largely silent, wary of stepping into a political fray. But as the ramifications of Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s freeze...
Editorial Roundup: United States
Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad: Sept. 4 The Washington Post on changes to how to handle allegations of sex crimes in the U.S. military Few things at the Pentagon happen quickly, but rarely have its powers of delay been as...

Hundreds of military promotions are on hold as a Republican senator demands end to abortion policy
WASHINGTON (AP) — Top defense officials are accusing Republican Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville of jeopardizing America's national security with his hold on roughly 300 military promotions, raising the stakes in a clash over abortion policy that shows no signs of easing. Tuberville...

Biden refuses to grant some of the conditions that 9/11 defendants were seeking in plea negotiations
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has refused to approve some of the conditions that lawyers for the defendants in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks had sought in a possible plea bargain, ruling out a presidential guarantee that the five men would be spared solitary confinement and provided care...

Biden's shift on F-16s for Ukraine came after months of internal debate
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden's decision to allow allies to train Ukrainian forces on how to operate F-16 fighter jets — and eventually to provide the aircraft themselves — seemed like an abrupt change in position but was in fact one that came after months of internal debate and quiet...

Pentagon review calls for reforms to reverse spike in sexual misconduct at military academies
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military academies must improve their leadership, stop toxic practices such as hazing and shift behavior training into the classrooms, according to a Pentagon study aimed at addressing an alarming spike in sexual assaults and misconduct. U.S. officials...

Czechs ratify defense treaty with US that makes it easier to deploy US troops in Czech territory
PRAGUE (AP) — The Czech Republic on Wednesday completed the ratification of a defense treaty with the United States that deepens military cooperation and makes it easier to deploy U.S. troops in Czech territory. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala's signature was the final step in the...
