The Pentagon Rundown

A weekly rundown of the military news you need to know.

Latest in The Pentagon Rundown

U.S. Airmen assigned to the 509th Logistics Readiness Squadron and 393rd Bomber Generation Squadron conduct hot-pit refueling for a B-2 Spirit at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, May 28, 2025. The 509th Bomb Wing and its fleet of B-2s serve as part of the U.S. Air Force's conventional and strategic combat force with the capability to project U.S. airpower anywhere around the world. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua Hastings)
The Pentagon Rundown

Congress abandoned its authority to declare war decades ago

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Jun 19, 2025

Protesters confront California National Guard soldiers and police outside of a federal building as protests continue in Los Angeles following three days of clashes with police after a series of immigration raids on June 9, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
The Pentagon Rundown

The difference between the Insurrection Act and martial law

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Jun 13, 2025

The 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment and the Threat Systems Management Office push a swarm of 40 drones through the town during the battle of Razish, National Training Center on May 8th, 2019. This exercise was the first of many held at the National Training Center. (U.S. Army Photo by Pv2 James Newsome)
The Pentagon Rundown

The aftermath of Operation Spider’s Web and what it means for the US military

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Jun 6, 2025

Soldiers assigned to the U.S. Army Drill Team, 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), perform during a showing of "Twilight Tattoo" at Summerall Field, on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., May 7, 2025. Twilight Tattoo is a live, family-friendly military performance featuring Soldiers from The Old Guard and U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own", showcasing the U.S. Army's history through ceremonial drill, music, and historical reenactments that honor the service and sacrifice of American Soldiers past and present. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Oscar Toscano)
The Pentagon Rundown

Pentagon orders review of base moves, and more military news

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on May 30, 2025

The Pentagon's plan for an accountability review of the August 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, raises a question with few clear answers: Will we ever have accountability for the war itself?
The Pentagon Rundown

Is it possible to have ‘accountability’ for the War in Afghanistan?

By Jeff Schogol, James Clark

Posted on May 23, 2025

Four U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft assigned to the 115th Fighter Wing, Wisconsin National Guard, fly over the Air Dominance Center during exercise Sentry Savannah 25-1, Savannah Air National Guard Base, Georgia, Jan. 24, 2025. Sentry Savannah is the Air National Guard’s premier fighter exercise, a critical training event that aims to enhance the U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense’s fighter jet readiness, interoperability and capability in an air-to-air simulated combat environment. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Rafael D. Rosa)
The Pentagon Rundown

Trump touts new ‘F-55’ fighter jet and upgrades to F-35s and F-22s

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on May 16, 2025

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Aidan Smith, a rifleman with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment and a native of Maine, fires an M32 grenade launcher during a live-fire shoot range as part of Exercise Chesapeake 25 at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, May 1, 2025. Exercise Chesapeake 2025 was a bilateral U.S.–French naval exercise that underscored a commitment to interoperability, maritime readiness, and shared values. The exercise took place as the U.S. Marine Corps is celebrating 250 years of warfighting excellence and reflects the Marine Corps’ commitment to global partnerships and naval integration, enabling the force to rapidly respond to crises, deter adversaries, and reassure allies. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Jack Labrador)
The Pentagon Rundown

Hegseth orders sweeping force structure changes for the military

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on May 9, 2025

III Armored Corps Soldiers begin the week-long III AC Best Squad Competition with an Army Combat Fitness Test outside Whitside Fitness Center, Fort Riley, KS, on June 24, 2024. There are ten units from within III Corps participating in this event, all gunning for the opportunity to compete at the FORSCOM level Best Squad Competition later this year. (U.S. Army Photos by Spc. Tyler Selige)
The Pentagon Rundown

Army closes in on its elusive goal of a gender-neutral fitness test

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Apr 25, 2025

Pentagon Rundown
The Pentagon Rundown

US war against the Houthis grinds on. Tell me how this ends.

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Apr 18, 2025

The 104th Fighter Wing Security Forces Squadron conduct riot control training, August 20, 2024, at Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, Massachusetts.
The Pentagon Rundown

Pentagon faces deadline on recommending whether to invoke the Insurrection Act

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Apr 11, 2025

Pentagon Rundown April 4
The Pentagon Rundown

Did the Army actually listen to soldiers’ complaints about mandatory training?

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Apr 4, 2025

U.S. Marines with Marine Forces Special Operations Command conduct a raid during realistic urban training (RUT) in Lynchburg, Virginia, Mar. 19, 2025. RUT, an exercise hosted by Expeditionary Operations Training Group (EOTG), is comprised of different training scenarios that enable the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit to train as a cohesive Marine Air-Ground Task Force. EOTG trains II Marine Expeditionary Force units in preparation for upcoming deployments in support of geographic combatant commands. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Kyle Baskin)
The Pentagon Rundown

When are classified war plans neither ‘classified’ nor ‘war plans’

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Mar 28, 2025

F-15
The Pentagon Rundown

Campaign against the Houthis will not be ‘an endless offensive,’ Pentagon says

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Mar 21, 2025

A Ukrainian Su-27 Flanker escorts two B1B Lancers during a training mission for Bomber Task Force Europe, May 29, 2020.
The Pentagon Rundown

Are the U.S. and Ukraine friends again? It’s complicated.

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Mar 14, 2025

PORT HUENEME, Calif. (Feb 27, 2025) - The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) conducts a port call onboard Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) Port Hueneme, Feb. 27. Fitzgerald is underway in the U.S. 3rd Fleet conducting routine operations. NBVC is major shore warfighting platform; providing sustained ready forces to deploy, fight, and win. Composed of three operating facilities: Point Mugu, Port Hueneme and San Nicolas Island and home of the Pacific Seabees, West Coast E-2D Hawkeyes, 3 warfare centers and 110 tenant commands. (U.S. Navy photo by Master-at-Arms 1st Class Jon Cason)
The Pentagon Rundown

Too close for missiles, switching to guns: How the Navy learned to fight Houthi drones

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Mar 7, 2025

Sailors direct aircraft on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in the Pacific Ocean, Jan. 18, 2025. Nimitz is underway in 3rd Fleet conducting routine training operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Emma Burgess)
The Pentagon Rundown

Veterans caught up in mass federal layoffs — and the smoke hasn’t cleared

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Feb 28, 2025