Tony Bertuca

Chief Editor, Inside The Pentagon at Inside Defense

Washington defense reporter covering Pentagon business and national security news from the front lines of the military-industrial complex. DM for Signal.

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Articles

Senior defense Dem warns of losing lawmaker oversight via reconciliation, yearlong CR

1 day ago | insidedefense.com | Tony Bertuca

Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), an appropriator and the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said today he is concerned the GOP's reconciliation bill, though it increases funding for defense, could undermine Congress' authority and give the Pentagon a "slush fund." “I think it is an extraordinary mistake,” Reed told reporters today on a Defense Writers Group call.
McConnell: White House 'skinny budget' sets stage for defense investment 'cliff'

1 day ago | insidedefense.com | Tony Bertuca

Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee Chairman Mitch McConnell (R-KY) today said he opposes the Trump administration's fiscal year 2026 defense spending request because of its reliance on a "budgetary sleight of hand" that masks a failure to pursue real and sustained growth in Pentagon buying power. “Nothing undermines the prospect of innovation and reform like anemic topline spending,” he said at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
The week ahead | InsideDefense.com

3 days ago | insidedefense.com | Tony Bertuca

Senior defense officials are scheduled to speak at several public events this week, including congressional hearings. TuesdayThe Senate Armed Services Committee holds a hearing for several senior defense nominees. The Senate Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee holds a hearing on U.S. missile defense. The Center for Strategic and International Studies hosts a conference on global security, industry innovation and the future of U.S. military power.
Trump nominates former Unilever CISO to be Pentagon CIO

1 week ago | insidedefense.com | Tony Bertuca

President Trump has nominated Kirsten Davies, a former chief information security officer at multinational company Unilever, to be the Pentagon's chief information officer. Though the White House did not release biographical information on Davies, the Defense Department pointed Inside Defense toward her LinkedIn page, confirming that it was hers.
Trump taps former GE exec to be Pentagon comptroller

1 week ago | insidedefense.com | Tony Bertuca

President Trump has nominated former General Electric executive Jeffrey Bornstein to be Pentagon comptroller. Bornstein served as chief financial officer of the company from July 2013 to October 2017. He left GE in 2017 after 28 years with the company amid a corporate restructuring. According to his LinkedIn page, Bornstein is currently a managing partner at Generation Capital Partners.
House defense appropriators criticize White House defense budget request

1 week ago | insidedefense.com | Tony Bertuca

Senior House defense appropriators today said they are unhappy with the Trump administration's fiscal year 2026 defense spending request, which would not keep pace with inflation if not for its reliance on separate budget reconciliation legislation that would bring the total defense budget to $1 trillion .
Dems seek info on Musk's possible conflicts of interest in DOD, NASA contracts

1 week ago | insidedefense.com | Tony Bertuca

Senior House Democrats are seeking information from the Defense Department and NASA over potential conflicts of interest regarding government contracts awarded to SpaceX and CEO Elon Musk, who also leads the "Department of Government Efficiency." The letter, signed by House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA), House Science, Space and Technology Committee Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-WA) and other Democrats, notes the lawmakers’ concerns, particularly after a recent...
Hegseth orders 20% cut in four-stars from active duty and Guard

1 week ago | insidedefense.com | Tony Bertuca

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the Pentagon to cut its number of four-star active-duty and National Guard leaders by a minimum of 20%, according to a new memo. There are around 44 active-duty four-star officers across the U.S. military services, with the figure being based on the statutory limits set by U.S. law, which caps the numbers in each service branch.
DOD launches new 90-day 'sprint' to streamline software procurement

1 week ago | insidedefense.com | Tony Bertuca

The Defense Department has begun a 90-day "sprint" to develop a new framework and implementation plan for accelerating the acquisition of software, according to a new memo from a senior Pentagon official . The memo, signed by Katie Arrington, who is performing the duties of the DOD chief information officer, establishes the Software Fast Track (SWFT) Initiative, following March 6 guidance from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directing software acquisition reform.
The week ahead | InsideDefense.com

1 week ago | insidedefense.com | Tony Bertuca

Senior defense officials are scheduled to speak at several public events this week, including congressional hearings. TuesdayThe Senate Armed Services Committee meets to consider the nominations of Katherine Sutton to be assistant secretary of defense for cyber policy and Anthony Tata to be under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness. The House Armed Services readiness subcommittee holds a hearing on military readiness.