DoD Civilians Face Job Scrutiny
As the Pentagon moves with “speed and conviction” to fire civilian employees with “unacceptable” performance reviews, Trump tells sailors he supports a pay hike for them.
Military to Lease Base Land for AI Data Centers
The US Air Force wants to lease land — 3,000 acres at five bases — to companies to use for their private AI data centers.
US Destroys 8th Suspected Drug Vessel
The Trump administration has attacked an eighth vessel suspected of smuggling drugs, for the first time in the Pacific Ocean.
SOUTHCOM Caribbean Buildup: More Troops, 8 Ships, 1 Sub
The US is ramping up its counternarcotics operations in the Caribbean. The Pentagon says there are about 10,000 US forces there, most stationed in Puerto Rico. The Navy has eight ships in the region, along with one submarine. Meanwhile, the retirement of the admiral in charge of the operations was announced Thursday.
Coast Guard Also Gets Pay During Shutdown
In a politically charged statement DHS SEC Kristi Noem announced she had allocated funds for the US Coast Guard — the only military service not under the DoD budget –to continue to get paid during the government shutdown, the same as the other services.
Troops’ Pay Authorized During Shutdown
The Pentagon will use available funds to pay military members during the federal government shutdown. Troops were at risk of missing their first full paychecks on October 15.
Furloughed Feds’ Paychecks Threatened
After the Office of Management and Budget on Friday removed references to a 2019 guarantee to provide all federal workers with backpay at the conclusion of a lapse in appropriations, Trump indicated on Tuesday, he doesn’t intend to provide back pay to all federal workers, saying, “But it really depends on who you’re talking about.”
Likely No End for Shutdown This Week
The federal government shutdown will likely extend past this week as the House will not be in session. Congress failed to reach a funding deal on Friday, as Republicans and Democrats remain at odds over health care subsidies.
Trump Enters His 3rd Funding Lapse
US federal government closed at 12:01 am, Oct. 1, amid a bitter partisan fight over funding. Three-quarters of a million employees have been furloughed and others are working without pay indefinitely. This is the third time President Trump has presided over a federal funding lapse, the first since his return to the White House this year.
Top US Military Officers Ordered to Pentagon Summit
The US military’s top officers have been called to Quantico tomorrow, Sept. 30. DefSec Pete Hegseth’s directive did not offer a reason for the gathering of hundreds of generals and admirals from all across the globe. The move has created some confusion and alarm. Some top generals are bracing for possible firings or demotions. Although the White House has been downplaying the event, the president announced on Sunday he would be speaking at it.
