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The new "science golden age" looks suspiciously like a grift
This edition of PN is made possible by paid subscribers. Become one ⬇️ 🚀 Subscribe to PN 🚀 The Trump regime is trying to usher in a “Golden Age in Science” where scientific research is run like a Trump family business, artificial intelligence is all that matters, profit is everything, and expertise is for chumps. Or at least that’s the vision emerging from a new 123-page “Report to the President” from Michael Kratsios, the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. In a normal administration, you could probably skip over learning about a science policy document — but this is no normal administration, and this is no normal science policy document. Instead, it’s Trump’s attempt to end the actual golden age of science that was kicked off in 1945 with the publication of '“The Endless Frontier” by Vannevar Bush. [ ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/harmeet-dhillon-portland) [ Harmeet Dhillon demonstrates danger of posting through it ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/harmeet-dhillon-portland) Liz Dye · Jul 29 [ Read full story ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/harmeet-dhillon-portland) Bush, at President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s request, laid out a vision of federal support for science that centered on funding universities to do basic research, saying that as long as those institutions were “vigorous and healthy and their scientists are free to pursue the truth wherever it may lead, there will be a flow of new scientific knowledge to those who can apply it to practical problems in Government, in industry, or elsewhere.” Kratsios’s report is supposed to be the successor to Bush’s, and even apes the format, but this isn’t really a document about science policy. It’s one about ending science research as we know it in favor of shoveling cash at big tech companies. While it might be temping to wave this away as an aspirational policy document, Trump has already begun to shift billions in research funds to AI projects and has taken a hatchet to science funding across the board. He’s teed up the shift Kratsios proposes here, and since neither Congress nor the Supreme Court seem inclined to stop him from doing whatever he wants with taxpayer money, it isn’t doomering or hyperbole to say we are staring down the barrel of a world where the only “science” the government intends to support is for-profit tech and defense advancements. Science for dummies Part of how you can tell this isn’t a document about science is that you are immediately faced with an absolute wall of business-speak of the worst sort. Did you know we must “tightly couple our science and technology enterprises to ensure that groundbreaking ideas invented in the United States are rapidly prototyped, tested, manufactured, and scaled domestically”? You do now! That tone isn’t surprising, because Kratsios has no background in science or research. He has a bachelor’s in political science and spent most of his career working for Peter Thiel at Thiel Capital. After a stint in the first Trump administration as Chief Technology Officer, where he also did not do any science, Kratsios was tasked in 2020 with overseeing the Pentagon’s research budget for a brief time, a position that, as the Wall Street Journal put it, “carries a great deal of power in terms of dictating investment allocations.” He spent the Biden years at Scale AI as “head of strategy,” which you will also note is neither a science nor a research job. But Scale AI has contracts with the Department of Defense and, as the Washington Post wrote in 2023, “has been aggressively pitching itself as the company that will help the US military in its existential battle with China.” And now you have the necessary background for our new golden age, which is going to be a golden age of taking money away from scientists and universities and giving it to companies like Scale AI. A note from Aaron: Working with brilliant contributors like Lisa takes resources. If you aren’t already a paid subscriber, please become one to support our work. 👇 Subscribe In a genuinely galling move, Katsios spends a lot of time slamming universities because of “administrative burdens on researchers” and the “well-documented inefficiencies” in academia, the message being that those damn universities waste the time of amazing researchers with paperwork. Except it’s the administration that is attempting to impose inefficient, unnecessary burdens on those researchers with a proposed Office of Management and Budget rule that would require senior political appointees to approve every science grant and ensure it aligns with Trump’s personal priorities. Researchers would also have to seek prior government approval to attend conferences or publicize their research. And political appointees could terminate any grant at any time if they feel like it. [ ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/omb-rule-science-funding) [ The murder of expertise ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/omb-rule-science-funding) Lisa Needham · Jun 11 [ Read full story ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/omb-rule-science-funding) But when it comes to AI, we’re going to “restore permissionless innovation.” The report proposes to give lucky ducky innovators a pile of cash up front for grants lasting five years or longer, saying “awards should be fully-funded in year one, with all resources earmarked upfront, to minimize administrative burdens and reduce pressure for researchers to generate intermediate results to secure continued funding.” Yeah, wouldn’t want to have to make the Very Special Tech Bros show results or get money parceled out year by year like the plebes at universities. The report also proposes that we should have “fast grants” with “simplified applications requiring just a few pages of writing” because that is definitely how science works, just writing a bit off the dome and getting some cash. [ ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/trump-ai-action-plan-altman-llms) [ Tech elites are turning AI into ChatGPTrump ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/trump-ai-action-plan-altman-llms) Paul Waldman · July 29, 2025 [ Read full story ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/trump-ai-action-plan-altman-llms) Oh, and we should have prizes and challenges, where multiple teams compete. The proposed prizes include incentives like “advance procurement commitments,” which means the federal government agrees to buy whatever is being developed. There’s also “regulatory fast-tracking,” making sure all those great AI thingies don’t have to wait too long to be unleashed on a market. These aren’t incentives to do science. These are incentives to develop things with tax dollars that you can then sell to the government for more tax dollars. In the suggestion that might be the most unhinged, the most very opposite of how both government and research work, our new age will include “golden tickets.” That’s where an individual reviewer in an agency — yes, just one person — can “recommend unconventional proposals that may not pass consensus-driven review panels” because somehow this will “surface valuable ideas too divisive for committees and attract higher quality reviewers by empowering them to exercise independent scientific judgment.” Yes, that’s saying that a random person in an agency should be able to shovel money at some idea even if it can’t pass a review panel, and that the opportunity to do so will attract better employees because apparently all the best minds in science are chomping at the bit to be allowed to unilaterally fund AI research based on their personal vibes. But that isn’t at all how actual science works, and actual scientists aren’t unhappy about review panels. They work collaboratively, not siloed in some secret race to create the next AI chatbot. A 2020 study by the National Bureau of Economic Research examined whether peer review panels succeed in helping agencies predict which research ideas will best advance science. Peer review was better at finding “diamond in the rough” applicants than a single government program official. How about that. Trump always wants a taste It’s painfully clear that what Katsios is trying to do here is turn the whole of government science research and funding into the sort of “move fast and break things” paradigm that is the hallmark of big tech. That method works to line the pockets of tech executives, but it isn’t science. There’s a reason the government funds different kinds of research than private tech companies do. What Katsios either fails to understand or deliberately ignores is that the federal government is the main funder of basic research precisely because it can take a long time for it to bear fruit and is not intended to be profitable as such. “Basic” here does not mean rudimentary or simple, but rather research that is designed to advance scientific knowledge instead of achieving a specific outcome or product. Big tech companies don’t widely fund that sort of research, because it doesn’t make them money. Industry dollars account for only about 20 percent of basic research funding, while the government contributes around 60 percent. Big tech companies and startups do, however, rely on and benefit from that basic research. A 2019 study found that 35 percent of all patents obtained by venture-backed startups from 1976 to 2016 cited federally supported research. Basic research funded by the NIH contributed to every single drug the FDA approved from 2010 to 2016. [ ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/trump-saudi-nuclear-deal) [ The Saudi nuclear farce and governance by whim and meme ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/trump-saudi-nuclear-deal) Noah Berlatsky · Jul 27 [ Read full story ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/trump-saudi-nuclear-deal) Unlike inventing the next ChatGPT, actual science is slow and iterative. Government funding of research that, on its face, would not appear to lead to any big new invention is actually what underpins those big new inventions. If the government hadn’t funded research into desert lizard venom, we wouldn’t know about semaglutide, and we wouldn’t have Ozempic. If research scientists hadn’t studied how bees optimize nectar foraging within a colony, we wouldn’t have the algorithm that assigns internet traffic across computer servers. The report assiduously ignores that a symbiotic, profitable relationship between the federal government, universities, and private companies already exists. Each federal research dollar generates about $1.50 to $3.00 in long-term economic benefits. The $36 billion the government awarded in NIH research funding in fiscal year 2025 generated $94 billion in new economic activity. Trump’s proposed new golden age is intended to strip those billions from universities, resulting in the dismantling of departments and the shuttering of labs. But Katsios has a plan for that: Universities should just become trade schools to churn out no-show STEM degrees! “Require universities and community colleges to embed practical technical training and externships into STEM curricula. Let hands-on experience and industry credentials count toward degrees.” It’s quite the feat to, on the one hand, strip schools of funding for scientific research while simultaneously demanding to control what is taught and, oh, also, colleges need to give degrees to employees at big tech companies just for being employees at big tech companies. The new golden age would also exacerbate the brain drain Trump’s policies have already caused. Nature found that in the first quarter of 2025, US scientists submitted 32 percent more job applications abroad than in 2024. A March 2025 poll by Nature of roughly 1,600 scientists found that over 1,200 said they were considering leaving the country. Europe is investing $565 million to make it a “magnet for researchers” and provide funding for scientists who relocate. The new golden age is also about embedding Trump’s xenophobia into the fabric of American science. The report complains of an “over-reliance on foreign students” that “creates a security challenge our institutions are ill-equipped to address” and that a “reliance on foreign talent sidelines American students.” This is, to put it mildly, nonsense. International students pay far higher tuition and often receive no financial aid. Their tuition dollars are what make it possible for American students to get financial aid. In the 2023-2024 school year alone, international students contributed $43.8 billion to the US economy and supported over 378,000 jobs. Those 1.1 million international students accounted for only six percent of the total number of students in higher education that year, but were such an economic engine that for every three international students, one job was created or supported. It’s impossible not to wonder whether part of Trump’s loathing for universities and their leading role in scientific research is that there is no way for him to corrupt the process and make money off it in the same way he can by giving millions and billions to Silicon Valley types who, in turn, give him millions in cash. There’s no way for his children to invest in universities that the government then gives no-bid contracts to, fattening the family’s bottom line, which is pretty much the Trump sons’ current venture capital practice. Trump and Katsios’s view of science is narrow, cramped, and wrong. We’re not in a crisis, we’re not a failed state. We’ve been a science superpower for decades, and the only thing that threatens that is Donald Trump. Tech bros are already living high off the hog in this administration. They don’t need any more of our tax dollars. Hopefully this new golden age never comes to pass. Thanks for reading Public Notice. This post is public so feel free to share it. Share We’ll be back with more tomorrow. If you appreciate today’s PN, please do your part to keep us free by signing up for a paid subscription. 🚀 Subscribe to PN 🚀 Thanks for reading, and for your support.
Hegseth offers soldiers testosterone and FDA loosens safety warnings. Is the science there?
Last week, the Pentagon posted a video on X announcing they will be mandating testosterone screening for troops in the military aged 30 and above. If they test low, they will be offered voluntary testosterone replacement therapy. This episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Youtube. At the same time, FDA has announced it […]
In novel program, the Pentagon will pay civilian ambulances for blood
The Pentagon will test paying ambulances for blood transfusions, a move experts hope expands lifesaving prehospital care.
An Admiral’s Rise Reveals the Politics Driving Hegseth’s Pentagon
Adm. Daryl Caudle path to the top Navy job is a case study in how the military promotion process at the Pentagon under Hegseth has deviated from tradition, leaving it susceptible in the view of critics to politicization and favoritism.
Iran war casualty count eclipses 600 as Pentagon quietly changes accounting
The Pentagon updated its war casualty database Saturday, recording more than 140 new wounded and restoring the four soldiers killed due to Iranian strikes last weekend.
An Admiral’s Rise Reveals the Politics Driving Hegseth’s Pentagon
Before he was picked to lead the Navy, Adm. Daryl Caudle found ways to signal his support for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s anti-diversity goals.
House takes first step to unlock Iran war funding — but fate in Senate uncertain, with measure tied to ‘SAVE America Act’
The House of Representatives on Wednesday took the first step toward funding President Donald Trump’s war with Iran, as well as approving tens of billions in additional Pentagon money and aid for US farmers.
Republican blocks bill to halt retrofit of Qatari-gifted Air Force One
Democrats have been trying to stop the Pentagon from spending more money on the luxury jet, which they call an "illegal" gift.
2 US troops killed during Iranian attack, Pentagon says
The US service members were killed in Jordan on Friday after American and partner forces came under Iranian missile and drone fire, the Pentagon says.
Doctors question evidence behind Pentagon plan for testosterone screening
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth this week ordered annual testosterone-deficiency screening for active-duty and reserve service members age 30 and older, which he says will help to maintain military readiness.
Hegseth touts a high-testosterone military, as doctors question his claims
The defense secretary said the Pentagon will test the testosterone levels of troops 30 and over. It was unclear if the plan would affect women or military fitness rules.
Google AI researcher says he resigned over military contract
Alex Turner, a research scientist at Google DeepMind, said he tried to change Google executives' minds about working with the Pentagon.
Google AI researcher says he resigned over military contract
Alex Turner, a research scientist at Google DeepMind, said he tried to change Google executives' minds about working with the Pentagon.
House Republicans release $95 billion spending bill with no offsets, which could endanger support
Republicans are racing to get money for the Pentagon and farm aid, but fiscal hawks have been asking to balance the budget request.
Business declares war on Pentagon stock buyback, dividend restrictions moving in Senate
The provision was pushed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and was included in the National Defense Authorization Act on a bipartisan basis.
New drone czar’s success hinges on personalities, Pentagon politics: Experts
Depending on who’s named to head the new drone-buying office, and how they handle the inevitable friction, said a former Pentagon AI chief, “it may turn out to be a master stroke ... [or] it could end up looking like the F-35.”
How Mitch McConnell’s absence complicates the Senate’s business and war funding
The 84-year-old's hospital stay may make it harder for Republicans to break a stalemate over funding, including $87 billion for the Pentagon as the Iran war reignites.
New Pentagon office will oversee majority of drones
From small one-way attack drones to drone boats and ground robots, the new office will have vast authority over the future of uncrewed programs.
Judge orders Pentagon to lift policy requiring journalists to be accompanied by an escort
It was not immediately clear whether the order applied only to reporters from The New York Times, which filed the lawsuit, or to the entire press corps.
Trump's defense budget, depleted U.S. war machine, spark U.S. state battle for business and jobs
President Trump's huge defense budget request and a race to replenish weapons stocks while building hypersonic missiles lead to war between US states for jobs.
White House asks Congress for $88 billion for Iran war
The request mostly includes money for the Pentagon, with $67 billion going toward replenishing the military’s stocks of munitions and the cost of sending so many forces to the Middle East.
Pentagon asks Congress for roughly $80 billion to cover cost of Iran war
The request adds to an already sizable military spending boost sought by President Donald Trump.
Pentagon seeks $80 billion from Congress for Iran war
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he's expecting a supplemental spending request from the administration
Pentagon seeks $80 billion from Congress for Iran war
The Pentagon has told lawmakers it needs roughly $80 billion, mostly to cover the cost of the war in Iran
China imposes trade curbs on dozens of U.S. firms in retaliation for Pentagon blacklist
The Pentagon earlier this month updated its so-called 1260H list by adding a slew of Chinese technology companies to a roster of entities it believes have aided Beijing's military.
What the Iran war cost the Pentagon, the economy
With an agreement signed, the US war with Iran is at a halt, at least for now, and President Donald Trump is telling Americans they have won.
Hegseth appears out of step in criticisms of NATO allies
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has criticized NATO allies and announced a Pentagon review of their performance. But Hegseth is mostly telling them things they already know.
Exclusive | Pentagon Tells Lawmakers It Needs $80 Billion for Iran War and Other Bills
Military officials say the services could run out of money for operations this summer unless Congress passes a new wartime spending bill.
Senators seek to block Hegseth travel funds until Pentagon releases report on Iran school strike
Senators are seeking to block Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s travel funds until the Pentagon submits its investigation into a strike on an elementary school in Iran that killed more than 165 people | WWJ Newsradio 950
Hazardous materials units respond to the Pentagon
Parts of the building were under a shelter-in-place order while officials investigate
A Google director quit over the company's Pentagon AI deal
"Proactively harming people is not something that I can or will be involved with," a Google director wrote in his resignation letter.
Social Security is Facing a Political Crisis
On Tuesday the Social Security Trustees released their latest report on the system’s finances. The numbers didn’t change much: Unless something is done, the Old Age Survivors and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program, Social Security’s official name, will be unable to pay full benefits starting in either 2032 or 2034, depending on some technical issues. That’s not far away: If the Trustees are right, the prospect of a Social Security crisis will loom over the next presidential administration. It’s important to understand, however, the nature of the looming crisis. It won’t be an economic crisis. It won’t even be a serious fiscal crisis. Whatever you may have heard, Social Security isn’t in danger of going bankrupt. What we’re facing, instead, is potential political crisis. Congress and the White House could easily take action to sustain America’s retirement system. But given the current state of our politics, there’s no guarantee that they will. There is a widespread misunderstanding of how Social Security works. While Social Security was designed to look like a pension fund, it isn’t. A pension fund pays benefits out of a stock of assets it has accumulated over time. In contrast, Social Security operates as a government transfer program, like food stamps or Medicaid. Now, unlike food stamps — but like the highway trust fund — Social Security is on paper supported by a dedicated tax, the payroll tax, that is assigned to that program. But I say “on paper” because from an economic point of view assigning the payroll tax to Social Security is just an accounting convention. What matters for the U.S. economy is the overall balance between government spending and government revenue, not the difference between one type of spending and one source of revenue. So there’s no inherent economic significance to the fact that by 2034 payroll tax receipts will be insufficient to cover promised benefits. There is, however, a legislative issue. As long as the Social Security Administration can pay benefits out of payroll taxes and its cash reserve, there’s no need for Congress to vote each year to authorize benefits — they just keep going out until further notice. However, once those resources become insufficient, benefits will fall —by 17 percent according to the Trustees — unless Congress passes new legislation that “tops up” Social Security’s finances. Yet the current administration and Republican party are such extremists that there is a real risk that Social Security will be held hostage on behalf of their goals. If this should come to pass, the hostage-takers will claim that shoring up Social Security is unaffordable. Right on cue, Mike Johnson, the Trump-sycophant Speaker of the House, declared on Monday that “entitlement programs” like Social Security “have to be adjusted and fixed,” and that Republicans will introduce a plan to that effect next year. But this is a ploy, because while the cost of maintaining Social Security benefits at their promised level isn’t trivial, it is in fact affordable. According to the Trustees’ report, the actuarial balance of OASDI up through 2050 — the amount of additional funds it would need to keep paying full benefits for the next 25 years — is 1.06 percent of GDP. To put that number in perspective, the Trump administration proposes increasing military spending next year by $420 billion, equivalent to about 1.4 percent of GDP – without any discussion of whether that’s affordable Yet how did we get to the point where Social Security will need to be topped up? The main answer is that we have an aging population, with a growing ratio of retirees collecting benefits to workers paying into the system: Trump’s anti-immigration policies are making this problem worse. According to the Trustees’ report, lower immigration will deepen Social Security’s financial hole because many immigrants are working-age adults who will pay into the system for decades before they collect benefits. In fact, this problem may be much bigger than the report acknowledges: The report’s baseline assumption is that we’ll have net immigration of almost 1.2 million people a year, and even the pessimistic case assumes 750,000 a year. Meanwhile actual net immigration has already been cut far below that — and may now be negative. Moreover, Social Security is being financially damaged by growing income inequality in America. Payroll taxes are levied only on wages up to $184,500, and they don’t touch capital income. With the distribution of income increasingly shifting from labor to capital, as well as becoming more unequal among wage-earners, revenue from the Social Security payroll tax has been falling as a share of national income. From 1990 to 2024, it fell from 5.02 percent of gross domestic income to 4.46 percent. Which brings me to the question that, these days, we ask about everything: How might Social Security be affected by the advent of AI? A short answer: If, as many of us fear, AI accelerates rising income inequality, it will further reduce the payroll tax receipts that currently pay for Social Security and further endanger its finances. On the other hand, if AI, as its advocates promise, leads to faster economic growth, it will increase the potential tax base that could and should be used to support Social Security and other social insurance programs. But to take advantage of that larger base, we’ll have to get serious about taxing wealth and capital income. Is Social Security in trouble? Yes, but only because of the way its financing is currently structured — a structure that no longer works well because our society and economy have become so unequal. Moreover, Trump’s immigration policies are further endangering its already deteriorating financial condition. So don’t believe Republicans’ gaslighting that it will be necessary to cut Social Security benefits. All that is necessary to preserve Social Security is political will to raise taxes on the wealthy and a sensible immigration policy. MUSICAL CODA Actually 67 under current law.
Inside Hegseth’s Pentagon, where distrust and suspicions of loyalty are rampant
Nearly from the beginning of his tenure, multiple sources said, Pete Hegseth has been distrustful of officials around him — civilian and military alike — and suspicious about their loyalties.
Pentagon updates list of recognized religious affiliations after backlash from Mormon lawmakers
The Pentagon has updated its list of verified religious affiliations for service members used in HR systems and removed the “Christian” designation from several faiths after facing backlash over the weekend that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was not designated as Christian.
Dan Green launches CD 9 campaign with $1M and distinguished Navy résumé
The Pentagon veteran and Trump appointee jumps into a GOP field chasing a seat the new map flipped from blue to a national target.
Trump’s troop reversals in Europe could cost taxpayers millions, officials say
The U.S. military is waiting for clarity from the Pentagon following President Donald Trump's back-and-forth on troop levels in Europe, upending the lives of military personnel and potentially costing taxpayers millions of dollars, two U.S. defense officials told The Associated Press.
Pentagon drops 180 faiths from military's recognized religions list
The Department of War officially removed 180 faiths from its recognized religions list, reducing over 200 faith codes to just 31 under a new memo.
Jan. 6 Rioter Is Hired to Work in Sensitive Pentagon Office
It was not clear who hired Elias Irizarry, who pleaded guilty to various offenses at the Capitol and was later pardoned by President Trump.
Pentagon bars journalists from its press office, saying it is ‘classified space’
The move takes place amid escalating tensions between the U.S. media and the second Trump administration
Pentagon Bars Reporters From Its Press Office
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has repeatedly curtailed journalists’ access in the Pentagon.
The Pentagon Knows the True Threat of Climate Denialism. Too Bad They Can’t Do Anything About It.
Newly uncovered documents reveal that the military very recently identified potentially dire geopolitical consequences of climate change. Then a climate denier moved into the Oval Office.
A Pentagon test group is eyeing ballistic ballcaps for troops
The protective hats could shield service members facing threats in places where patrol caps, not helmets, are the norm.
Pentagon watchdog evaluating US operations involving strikes on alleged drug boats
The Defense Department’s internal watchdog has said it is evaluating US Southern Command’s operations that have included strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean.
WATCH: Murray calls Pentagon's Iran war cost estimate 'suspiciously low,' presses for damage price tag
Hegseth calls for Sen. Mark Kelly to be investigated by Pentagon for second time
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sunday called for Sen. Mark Kelly to be investigated over comments he made about US weapon stockpiles, marking the second time the Pentagon chief has opened a review into the Democratic senator.
Hegseth says Pentagon will review Mark Kelly's public statements about classified briefing amid ongoing feud
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth suggested Sen. Mark Kelly may have violated his oath by discussing a classified Pentagon briefing on weapons stockpiles.
DC Wrap: U.S. fires on Iranian tankers; Pentagon releases UFO files
A look at the day's biggest stories in national politics
Pentagon releases first batch of UFO records on new website
In one document, astronaut Buzz Aldrin described seeing “little flashes inside the cabin, spaced a couple minutes apart” during the Apollo 11 mission
Pentagon releases UFO records on new website
President Donald Trump had hinted about the declassification of “very interesting” records last week
Pentagon releases ‘never-before-seen’ files detailing UFOs
The Pentagon on Friday announced that it has released “never-before-seen files” on UFOs after President Donald Trump directed the agency to do so earlier this year.
Reservists sue Pentagon over denied transition health care benefits
A class action lawsuit challenges a DoD policy that conditions eligibility for the Transitional Assistance Management Program.
'Ceasefire is not over,' Hegseth says as U.S. acts to reopen Strait of Hormuz
Hegseth said "Project Freedom" is a temporary and defensive operation meant to resume the flow of traffic through the vital waterway.
Pentagon orders withdrawal of 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany as Trump escalates feud with Merz
The Pentagon confirmed the withdrawal of approximately 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany as tensions between Trump and Chancellor Merz intensify.
US withdrawing 5,000 troops from Germany after chancellor criticized war with Iran
The Pentagon said on Friday the US will be withdrawing roughly 5,000 troops from Germany over the next year.
US to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany in next 6-12 months
The Pentagon says the United States will withdraw about 5,000 troops from Germany in the next 6-12 months
Iran War Costs $25 Billion, Pentagon Says
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the war, arguing that the spending is justified to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Pentagon’s $25 billion cost estimate for Iran war is low and does not include cost of rebuilding US bases, sources say
The $25 billion estimate that a top Pentagon official gave to lawmakers on Wednesday for the total cost to date of the Iran war is a lowball figure that does not include the cost of repairing extensive damage suffered by US bases in the region, three people familiar with the matter told CNN.
Pentagon Pete Cornered on ‘Unhinged’ Trump’s Mental Health
The defense department chief insisted the president was “the sharpest and most insightful” commander-in-chief in generations.
Brain function evaluations to be part of Marine health records
By September, Marines will be screened for blast exposure and overpressure during their periodic health assessments, a Pentagon official said.
KPMG exits US federal audit business after losing Pentagon contract, FT reports
Big Four firm KPMG is shutting its federal government audit business and will redeploy more than 450 U.S. staff after losing a $60 million-a-year contract with the Pentagon, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing sources.
Federal appeals court allows Pentagon to temporarily require escorts for journalists
A federal appeals court on Monday ruled the Pentagon can require escorts for journalists inside the building while litigation over the Defense Department’s restrictive press policy continues.
Google employees call on CEO to block classified military AI projects
About 600 Google employees urge CEO Sundar Pichai to block classified Pentagon AI deals, citing ethical concerns over military use of AI for weapons.
In win for Hegseth, White House embraces new Navy secretary
Hung Cao, known as a partisan firebrand, has built credibility inside the Pentagon.
Eric Trump-backed robot startup lands $24M Pentagon deal to compete with China
The Pentagon awarded a $24 million contract to test heavy-duty humanoid robots designed to breach enemy sites and strengthen U.S. military readiness.
Navy Secretary John Phelan Is Leaving the Pentagon and the Trump Administration
John Phelan is leaving the Pentagon and the Trump administration after months of infighting with senior Pentagon leaders.
Navy Secretary abruptly leaves job as US naval blockade of Iran continues
Secretary of the Navy John Phelan is leaving his position “effective immediately,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell announced on Wednesday evening.
Pentagon makes flu shot optional for troops, rescinding requirement
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Tuesday that the US military will no longer require the annual flu vaccine for troops.
House Oversight to investigate missing or dead US nuclear scientists
Comer said the panel plans to seek information and briefings from the Pentagon, FBI, Department of Energy and NASA.
Pentagon defends Pete Hegseth using 'Pulp Fiction' monologue as prayer at worship service
The Pentagon is defending Pete Hegseth after the secretary of war used a Samuel L. Jackson monologue from 'Pulp Fiction' as a prayer at a worship service.
Did Pete Hegseth just quote 'Pulp Fiction' during a Pentagon worship service?
Pete Hegseth seemed to quote 'Pulp Fiction' as he paraphrased a Bible verse during a recent Pentagon worship service.
Trump administration taps automakers to boost weapons production in WWII-style push
The Trump administration is turning to automakers and manufacturers to boost weapons production in a World War II-style Pentagon push, officials say.
Rader Health Clinic Nurse Receives Life-Saving Award
A Rader Health Clinic nurse was recognized for her extraordinary actions in 2025 that helped save the life of a teenager during an incident at the Pentagon City Mall.
Another US strike on suspected drug boat in the eastern Pacific kills 4
The U.S. military has launched a strike on another boat accused of carrying drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing four people | 830 WCCO
Air Force Reserve Chief Receives International Award for Global Health Leadership
The Air Force’s International Health Specialist program presented Lt. Gen. John P. Healy, Chief of Air Force Reserve and Commander of Air Force Reserve Command, with its International Health System Award in a ceremony at the Pentagon on April 7.
Strikes on alleged drug boats kill 5, leave 1 survivor in eastern Pacific, US military says
The U.S. military says it blew up two boats accused of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean | KMBZ
Strikes on alleged drug boats kill 5, leave 1 survivor in eastern Pacific, US military says
The U.S. military says it blew up two boats accused of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean | 830 WCCO
Spring volleyball: Nebraska tops Iowa State in Sioux Falls
Nebraska volleyball handled business in its first spring match against Iowa State on Saturday, April 11, inside the Sanford Pentagon. Before the match, the two teams agreed to play four sets, as the Huskers won all four (25-17, 25-16, 25-16, 26-24).
Vatican meeting at Pentagon was ‘unusual,’ a church official says
U.S. and Vatican officials have sought to downplay accounts of a strained relationship, but there have been tensions between the Trump administration and the Catholic Church.
Hegseth must open Pentagon to reporters, judge rules
The Defense Department “cannot simply reinstate an unlawful policy,” the judge wrote
The US in Brief: The Pentagon’s battle against free speech
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Federal judge finds Pentagon in violation of court order to restore reporters' access
A federal judge on Thursday ruled that the Defense Department is violating his earlier order to restore access to the Pentagon for reporters, a setback in the administration's efforts to impede the work of journalists.
Judge blocks Pentagon’s latest bid to limit press access
A federal judge tore into the Department of Defense on Thursday for attempting an end-run around his decision voiding parts of a restrictive press policy rolled out by Secretary Pete Hegseth last year, saying the Pentagon had flouted his ruling when it quickly implemented a tighter policy.
Pentagon says US forces ready to resume combat operations if ordered
Secretary Pete Hegseth’s Christian rhetoric at the Pentagon reignites praise and scrutiny
The Danger of a Political Pentagon
Sen. King issues a grave warning about converting the military "into an armed force with greater loyalty to the President than to the Constitution."
WATCH LIVE: Hegseth and Caine hold Pentagon briefing as Trump threatens Iran's infrastructure
Inside the Pentagon, fears of a disrupted war effort after Army chief’s ouster
The forced departure of Randy George in the middle of a war created yet another blow to morale inside the Pentagon, where officials expressed dismay over the state of the department's leadership.
Trump asks Congress to supersize military budget, slash domestic programs
The president’s fiscal 2027 budget request calls for Republicans to use a partisan process for enacting billions for the Pentagon.
Hegseth’s War on America’s Military
Someone needs to explain the Pentagon purges to the American people.
Jeffries: Americans would ‘furiously react’ to cutting health care to pay for Iran war
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said Americans would “furiously react” if Congress cut federal health care funds in order to fulfill a pricey Pentagon budget request amid the U.S.’s …
‘The face of the Pentagon’: CNN report details Hegseth’s role touting military power during war in Iran
Iran still firing missiles, U.S. ground operations remain an option, Hegseth says
Despite weeks of intensive U.S. operations targeting Iran's missile infrastructure, the threat has not been fully eliminated and continues to be a factor in the military operation.
Coatue Projected $1.995 Trillion Valuation for Anthropic in 2030
In a presentation to prospective investors in January, Coatue offered a rare look at how it justifies Anthropic’s heady valuations. An anonymous source sent me the slides, which give a unique look at how a top investment firm values Anthropic’s business. This is a moment in time when some of America’s most valuable, growing technology companies remain private. In the January presentation, Coatue estimated that Anthropic would lose $14 billion in EBITDA on $18 billion in revenue in 2026, ending the year with $30 billion in annualized run-rate revenue. Most recently, it’s been reported that Anthropic is at $19 billion in ARR, which could suggest Anthropic is already running ahead of Coatue’s expectations. By 2031, Coatue projected that Anthropic would be generating $48 billion in EBITDA profits on $200 billion in revenue, with $224 billion of ARR. That would give Anthropic a 41x forward EBITDA multiple at a projected $1.995 trillion valuation in 2030. Coatue told the investors it was pitching that Anthropic could be worth $2.413 trillion in 2031. In February, Coatue co-led a $30 billion Series G investment in Anthropic that valued it at $380 billion. Coatue declined to comment on this story. I first shared this slide and talked about the presentation on my new podcast, the Cerebral Valley Show, which I host with my CVAI co-hosts Max Child and James Wilsterman. I’ve got a few other slides from the Coatue presentation for Newcomer subscribers.
Pentagon seeks $200 billion in additional funds for the Iran war, AP source says
The requested amount would be a hefty boost to the Pentagon’s annual budget, which Congress approved at more than $800 billion for the current fiscal year.
Mental health issues plague new moms in the military. The Pentagon is supposed to help
By Jennifer Brookland The War Horse Shawna Bush had been blissfully ignorant during her pregnancy: happy, excited, and expecting the best out of motherhood. It took just two days for the wrecking ball of postpartum depression to demolish her joy and leave her sobbing on the couch. “It hit me like a train,” Bush said. […]
Judge temporarily blocks the Pentagon's action against Anthropic
Anthropic has said it could lose billions if a federal judge didn't step in to block the Trump administration.
At Pentagon Christian service, Hegseth prays for violence 'against those who deserve no mercy'
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has hosted a monthly Christian prayer and worship service at the Pentagon, the first since the Iran war began.