Biden clears way for Pentagon to send $1 billion in military aid to Ukraine, with shipment to begin in 'next few hours'

Pentagon set to send $1 billion in new military aid to Ukraine once Biden signs bill

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon is poised to send $1 billion in new military aid to Ukraine, U.S. officials said Tuesday as the Senate moved ahead on long-awaited legislation to fund the weapons Kyiv desperately needs to stall gains being made by Russian forces in the war. The...

When it comes to government planes and political trips, who pays for a president's campaign travel?

WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s no simple matter to move the commander in chief from point A to B, and it’s even more complicated when the president is seeking a second term. President Joe Biden recently spent three days in Pennsylvania, a pivotal state in the 2024 campaign, and he...

After Congress finally does pass new funding, this is how the US can rush weapons to Ukraine

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon could get weapons moving to Ukraine within days once Congress passes a long-delayed aid bill. That's because it has a network of storage sites in the U.S. and Europe that already hold the ammunition and air defense components that Kyiv desperately needs. ...

Pentagon leaders press Congress for Ukraine funding, saying battlefield situation is dire

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukraine and Israel both desperately need the military weapons that are being held up by Congress' failure to pass a funding package for the two countries at war, Pentagon leaders told House appropriators Wednesday, calling the situation in Ukraine dire. “Whether...

US Pentagon chief speaks with Chinese counterpart for first time since November 2022

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with China's national defense minister Tuesday morning, in the latest in a series of U.S. steps to improve communications with the Chinese military and reduce unsafe and aggressive incidents in the Indo-Pacific. It was the...

US defense official had 'Havana syndrome' symptoms during a 2023 NATO summit, the Pentagon confirms

WASHINGTON (AP) — A senior Defense Department official who attended last year's NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, had symptoms similar to those reported by U.S. officials who have experienced “Havana syndrome," the Pentagon confirmed Monday. Havana syndrome is still under...

Controversial military reproductive health care travel policy was used just 12 times in 7 months

WASHINGTON (AP) — A controversial military policy that allows service members to be reimbursed for travel if they or a family member have to go out of state for reproductive health care — including abortions — was used just 12 times from June to December last year, the Pentagon said Tuesday. ...

Pentagon urges Israel to protect civilians in Gaza as military chiefs meet at time of high tensions

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. defense leaders pressed their Israeli counterparts Tuesday to ensure that any military operation in the southern city of Rafah unfold in phases to protect civilians and secure the delivery of aid, a senior Pentagon official said. Israel’s defense minister...

Finding money: How the Pentagon dug down and found $300M for Ukraine but is still deep in the red

WASHINGTON (AP) — Even with a budget of more than $800 billion and the ability to buy millions of weapons and pieces of equipment every year, the Pentagon sometimes can find a few dollars in the couch cushions. Or, make that $300 million. For the second time in nine months, Defense...