All 50 governors oppose Biden proposal on authority over the National Guard
Fifty governors have signed letters in opposition to a Biden administration proposal that would change who has control over a state’s national guard. A new Pentagon proposal, supported by the White House, would partially change that.
It’s a governor’s job to handle the state’s National Guard, deploying members within their own state or to others in times of crisis.
The Pentagon’s proposal would give the Air Force secretary the sole authority to move Air National Guard members from any state to Space Force units in effort to build the service’s Space Force.
The secretary said the proposal impacts 13 space units — about 1,000 Air National Guard members.
A White House official said the Biden administration stands by the proposal for a one-time transfer of airmen to help expand the Space Force and expand space security.
However, the governors are calling the proposal an overreach.
“If adopted, the proposal would flout more than a century of precedent and undermine federal law protections for state control of their National Guard,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, R, wrote in an open letter to lawmakers.
“Instead of attempting such a power grab in Congress, the U.S. Department of the Air Force should work with the affected governors to build up the Space Force in a way that is consistent with federal law,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, R, wrote in an open letter to Biden.
“Legislation that sidesteps, eliminates or otherwise reduces Governors’ authority within their states and territories undermines longstanding partnerships, precedence, military readiness and operational efficacy,” a joint letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin signed by the other 48 governors reads.
The proposal is being reviewed by the Senate Armed Services Committee. There are no further reports on what committee members plan to do with it.
How the Department of Defense’s $850 billion budget breaks down
It’s budget planning time in Washington. That means it’s time for the Department of Defense to submit its request for money from the American taxpayers.
For fiscal year 2025, the Pentagon is asking for $849.5 billion. That’s only about 1% more than it requested last year, which doesn’t keep up with inflation.
This is an overview of how each branch of the U.S. military plans to spend its share of the funds. However, Congress still hasn’t approved last year’s budget request from the Pentagon. Instead, the DOD is still operating on a continuing resolution, which impacts a whole host of budgetary issues.
Also, in order to keep the government from shutting down last fall, Congress and President Joe Biden agreed to the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which set a hard cap on defense spending in fiscal year 2025. So, some plans that were in the works for years are now delayed.
All that together means every dollar amount is an estimate and is subject to change, depending on how long it takes Congress to act and what level of funding it deems appropriate.
The Pentagon
As a whole, the DOD’s nearly $850 billion budget includes a 4.5% pay raise for service members, more funding for child development centers and on base facilities, and more money for service members to apply towards their basic housing allowance.
In the Department of the Navy — which actually oversees both the Navy and Marine Corps — the Navy is requesting about $204 billion in funding. The Marines are asking for just under $54 billion.
That represents a total budget increase of under 1%. So, the Navy, like every service branch, said it had to make some hard choices. The Navy previously said it would stop buying F/A-18 Super Hornets so it could save funds for the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter being developed in coordination with the Air Force. Now, the Navy is saying the billion dollars in fiscal year 25’s budget originally meant for the NGAD program will have to be reallocated.
The Navy said budget constraints also mean it needs to divest of 10 ships — retire them early. This is something Congress hates to do, especially now that China has the world’s largest fleet by number of ships.
The Navy said it could save a lot of money if it didn’t have to keep up with those 10 ships. That money could be used to help buy the six new vessels the Navy wants, a list which includes a new Virginia-class submarine, a couple of Arleigh Burke class destroyers and the Marine Corps’ first Medium Landing Ship.
The Marine Corps is also requesting funding for its helicopter fleet. But like the Navy and the NGAD, the Marines are also delaying spending on some unmanned programs in favor of maintaining readiness.
United States Coast Guard
Staying on the water, the United States Coast Guard is requesting the smallest chunk of change from Congress — just $13.8 billion. That’s less than what the Coast Guard requested in last year’s defense budget too. The Coast Guard said the money will be used to buy several new cutters and pay for upgrades to its MH-60 helicopter fleet.
United States Army
The Army is requesting $186 billion, a large portion of which will go toward personnel costs, as well as operations and maintenance. The Army is the largest and oldest of all the branches, employing more than 442,000 active duty soldiers plus another 325,000 national guardsmen and 175,000 reservists.
The Army already axed its Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft program, and, with the added budget constraints, announced the Extended Range Cannon Artillery program is now also dead. Although, some of the work being done on the munitions for that will continue.
The Army’s budget request includes money for more munitions, including the new Precision Strike Missile, which is replacing the ATACMS. The Army is also setting aside funds for the new Integrated Visual Augmentation System, a battlefield goggle display for foot soldiers that has been in development for years. If the next round of testing goes well, the Army wants to buy more than 3,000 units in fiscal year 25.
Now looking at the Department of the Air Force, which includes both the Air and Space Forces. The Air Force is requesting $188 billion. Space Force is asking for $29 billion from the defense budget.
With the money, the Air Force said it can procure 90 new aircraft, including 42 F-35s, 18 F-15EXs, more than a dozen tankers, some helicopters and a handful of the new T-7A Red Hawk trainers.
However, the Air Force also wants to divest of 250 aircraft including 32 F-22s, 26 F-15Es and 56 A-10 Warthogs. In terms of munitions, the Air Force wants to buy a slew of long-range missiles and anti-ship weapons. But, somewhat surprisingly, there is no money set aside for Lockheed Martin’s ARRW hypersonic missile.
The Space Force is the smallest of the branches, but its mission is vital to the entire Defense Department due to the increase of space-based communication. To that end, the Space Force wants to spend the bulk of its budget beefing up the satellites it puts into space by making them more resilient.
The Space Force wants to increase its number of satellites as well. The service wants to fund at least 11 launches in fiscal year 25, and it’s putting a large chunk of its requested budget toward more research, development, test and evaluation activities.
All of these numbers and figures are subject to change because a lot of fiscal year 25’s spending depends on fiscal year 24’s budget, which Congress has been sitting on since 2023.
Also, in addition to paying for all of its regular bills, the Pentagon is footing the tab on some border security operations and some supplies sent over to Ukraine. Those things are supposed to be paid for by the supplemental funding bill that Congress is also still sitting on. So, in the meantime, those costs are being covered out of some services’ core budgets, which means there’s even less money to go around.
Air and Space Forces reveal new priorities to prepare for evolving threats
The 2024 AFA Warfare Symposium showcased a clear theme of impending change amidst a backdrop of industry buzzwords and acronyms. The symposium unveiled 24 new priorities for the Air and Space Forces’ leadership, aimed at creating a more agile force that relies on established teamwork at home bases.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin emphasized the need to re-optimize the branch to dominate evolving challenges of the future.
“That’s what this is about,” Allvin said. “Taking this Air Force that has the best talent, the best teamwork, and re-optimizing it to dominate this game in the way it’s gonna be played now and into the future. That’s what this is about.”
One of the most obvious changes discussed is the restructuring of combat wings. Traditional air expeditionary wings will be replaced by deployable combat wings, in-place combat wings, and combat generation wings. The shift aims to create more self-sufficient units that ready to engage the enemy without having to piece together deployments from various locations.
“We can no longer afford to move slowly,” Allvin said. “And if you wanna move fast and coherently you have to be in unison, you have to be integrated.”
Allvin did not provide a specific timeline for the implementation of these changes, but a previously scheduled testing at three bases in the summer of 2024 has been suspended.
The changes announced at the symposium can be categorized into four areas: developing people, generating readiness, projecting power, and developing capabilities.
“I am unapologetic to stand here in front of you and say I do not know the final destination,” Allvin said. “And here’s why, because if we wait to move to have those final answers, we will be too late.”
The Space Force, which is four years old, is also undergoing significant changes.
One headline change is the creation of a new field command, the Space Futures Command.
“So we are going to establish a Space Futures Command that is combined of three centers that starts to ask these fundamental questions,” Chief of Space Operation Gen. Chance Saltzman said. “That puts together a force that we can offer to combatant commanders that doesn’t just have the systems. It has the tactics, the training, the operational concepts.”
Both Air and Space Forces leaders emphasized that change is rarely easy but framed these shifts in priorities as opportunities for growth and improvement.
We got a lot of hard work to do. This is the most difficult, intense, focused threat that I’ve ever seen us face. And we’re just gonna have to respond accordingly.
Frank Kendall, Air Force Secretary
The symposium’s discussions of re-optimization were underscored with motivating factors, such as Russia’s war in Ukraine, tensions in the Red Sea’s shipping lanes, and China’s intentions regarding Taiwan.
For a detailed overview of all the changes planned for both the Air and Space Forces, interested parties can refer to the official releases and presentations from the symposium below.
Access all Weapons and Warfare podcast episodes here.
Air and Space Forces gearing up for future threats: Weapons and Warfare
In this episode of Weapons and Warfare, the Air and Space Forces are making changes to improve their readiness in the face of constantly evolving threats from around the world. Senior leadership is giving service members a glimpse into the direction each branch is headed.
Also featured in this episode:
A timeline for the delivery of F-16 Fighting Falcons to Ukraine.
The Navy commissions its newest ship in San Diego.
Houthi rebels claim victory in the downing of a U.S. Reaper drone.
An engineer from the Air Force Research Laboratory explains how nature served as inspiration for the MUTANT — this week’s weapon of the week.
You can subscribe to the Weapons and Warfare podcast on the platform of your choosing here.
There were no technical issues this time as SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket successfully lifted off around 1:05 a.m. EST from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida— the rocket carrying a robotic lunar lander developed by the private company Intuitive Machines. A second “major milestone” was recorded shortly into Falcon 9’s flight when Intuitive Machine’s moon lander separated from the rocket’s second stage, according to NASA.
“Today’s Intuitive Machines IM-1 mission will provide insights into the lunar surface environment paving the way for Starship’s Human Landing System putting the first NASA Artemis astronauts on the Moon,” SpaceX posted on X.
Houston-based Intuitive Machines hopes its lander, Odysseus, will be the first U.S. spacecraft to touch down on the moon in over five decades. NASA is paying the company $118 million to carry six items, including a camera to observe the dust upon landing and a radio receiver system to study charged particles on the moon’s surface. Odysseus is scheduled to land on the moon’s south pole on Feb. 22.
Other items taken on the trip include insulation material from Columbia Sportswear and a sculpture from artist Jeff Koons.
“Just a couple hours away from the launch at 1AM EST Feb 14 of my artworks Moon Phases on Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 mission,” Koons wrote on X ahead of Falcon 9’s launch. “The images capture the Nova-C lunar lander being encapsulated on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. I am honored to have the first authorized artwork on the Moon.”
Just a couple hours away from the launch at 1AM EST Feb 14 of my artworks Moon Phases on Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 mission. The images capture the Nova-C lunar lander being encapsulated on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. I am honored to have the first authorized artwork on the Moon. pic.twitter.com/RpuSjbr7de
Key US military facility in Pacific devastated by rogue waves
Rogue waves crashed into a bar at U.S. Army Garrison Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands on Saturday, Jan. 20, causing damage that could take months to repair. The first wave forcefully burst through doors, hurling them off their hinges and sweeping two individuals standing outside into the rapidly flooding interior.
The affected island, known as Roi-Namur, has been a crucial U.S. military facility in the Pacific since Marines took control away from Japan in World War II.
Recovery for the island’s civilian infrastructure might take years, impacting all Department of Defense personnel living there. Army-provided photos revealed widespread flooding on the island, with a dining facility submerged in mud.
120 military personnel call the island home and roughly 80 were evacuated during the incident, according to the Army.
Waves also damaged unaccompanied housing and a church and submerged an automotive complex and theater. The aftermath revealed a few minor injuries to individuals.
The Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site focuses on testing and evaluating ballistic missile defense systems and space surveillance operations. According to the Army, the recovery could span years.
Aerial photos showcase the extensive damage on Roi-Namur, the second-largest island on the Kwajalein Atoll, with parts still submerged.
The Kwajalein Atoll houses specialized instruments, including high-fidelity radars and optical sensors, making it the forefront of long-range missile testing and defense. Its remote Pacific location makes it one of the few places where the U.S. military can test intercontinental ballistic missiles. The annual Department of Defense tests examine missile flight characteristics, capabilities, and reliability.
Morgan emphasized the importance of clearing and assessing the safety of the runway. Once open, it will facilitate the movement of people and equipment, initiating the recovery process.
Restoring the island’s infrastructure is dubbed “Operation Roi Recovery,” with about 60 personnel remaining on the island to begin restoring utilities.
First US moon landing mission in decades launches into space
The first U.S. moon landing mission in decades was launched Monday morning, Jan. 8, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The Vulcan rocket lifted into space at 2:18 a.m. carrying a robotic spacecraft, hoping to be the first lunar lander by a private company.
It was also the first flight for Vulcan, which has been under development for a decade by United Launch Alliance, a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The lunar lander called Peregrine was developed by the Pittsburgh-based company Astrobotic Technology.
“There’s a lot riding here,” said John Thornton, the chief executive of Astrobotic. “It’s a mix of emotions. There’s thrill and excitement, but I’m also a bit terrified because there’s a lot on the line.”
The lander was carrying multiple scientific deliveries on board, including five experiments from NASA, as well as cremated remains on behalf of two space burial companies. If successful, Peregrine would be the first American spacecraft to land on the moon since the final Apollo mission in 1972, and if all goes right, it is set to touch down on the Moon on Feb. 23, after takes on loop around Earth and launches into lunar orbit. Still, the successful launch does not guarantee mission success.
“This whole task is not easy,” Nasa’s CLP program manger Chris Culbert said. “Landing on the moon is extremely difficult. The surface of the Moon holds many robotic spacecraft that were not able to land softly and complete their mission.”
Missing panel from Alaska Airlines flight found in man’s backyard: The Morning Rundown, Jan. 8, 2024
The missing piece of an Alaska Airlines plane that blew off in midflight is found in a backyard. And the first U.S. moon landing mission in decades lifts off. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Monday, Jan. 8, 2024.
Missing panel from Alaska Airlines flight found
As the National Transportation Safety Board continues investigating what caused a panel to detach from an Alaska Airlines plane midflight over the weekend, officials said they found that missing piece. The panel, called a door plug, was recovered in a teacher’s backyard in Portland, Oregon.
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The incident occurred Friday evening, Jan. 5, on an Alaska Airlines flight from Portland to Ontario, California, moments after it took off with 171 passengers and six crew members on board. No one was sitting in the window seat next to the missing panel, but passengers said they heard an extremely loud pop when the piece blew out 16,000 feet in the air.
The plane landed safely back in Portland. The FAA said it would examine how the door plug was fastened before it detached. The FAA grounded some “Boeing 737 Max 9” airplanes, which was the model of the Alaska Airlines flight. The grounding impacted more than 170 planes. The planes will remain grounded until the FAA is satisfied with its safety check.
Congressional leaders reach overarching deal to potentially avert shutdown
With a government shutdown on the horizon, Congressional leaders say they have found a middle ground to move forward with drafting individual spending bills. On Sunday, Jan. 7, Senate and House leaders announced an overarching agreement on government funding totaling nearly $1.66 trillion. A number in line with 2023’s agreement between President Biden and then-speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. An agreement that, in part, led to McCarthy’s ousting.
It is unclear whether this year’s agreement will get the support needed to pass spending bills to avert a partial shutdown in less than two weeks. The deal allows for an increase in Pentagon spending to $886 billion and $772.7 billion in non-defense funding.
We have made clear to Speaker Mike Johnson that Democrats will not support including poison pill policy changes in any of the twelve appropriations bills put before the Congress. pic.twitter.com/vDVWQYNqVu
Now, lawmakers will work on individual spending bills, work that has stalled in the past as Republicans and Democrats couldn’t agree on a middle ground. In a letter to Republicans, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., said there were victories for the GOP in the overarching agreement.
The deal includes a $10 billion cut to IRS funding and a $6 billion claw-back in unspent COVID-19 relief funding. Congress faces a first deadline of Jan. 19 to pass four individual spending bills to avoid a shutdown and a second deadline of Feb. 2 to pass eight remaining appropriation bills.
White House kept in dark about Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s medical condition
But the lack of transparency concerns Congress members, as even the president was kept in the dark about what happened. Though the Department of Defense released a statement on Friday, Jan. 5, details of what has been going on were still unclear. The statement read that Austin was taken to the ICU “due to his medical needs, but then remained in that location in part due to hospital space considerations and privacy.”
According to reports, the White House was kept in the dark for three days following Lloyd’s hospitalization on Jan. 1. News that raised concerns as the U.S. juggles multiple conflicts, one of which is risking to spread in the Middle East. On Saturday, Jan. 6, Austin released a statement.
“I recognize I could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed,” Austin said. “I commit to doing better.”
A U.S. official reported that President Biden and Austin spoke via telephone on Saturday, Jan. 5, and the president was happy to hear Austin was recovering. Another official added that Biden has complete confidence in Austin’s ability to continue to uphold his oath.
Poll: Nearly half of Americans believe situation at border is a crisis
Nearly half of Americans surveyed in a new poll said the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border is a crisis, and the percentage who believe the Biden administration should be tougher on immigrants trying to cross the border is the highest yet.
The results of the CBS News poll were released Sunday, Jan. 7, and show that 45% of Americans believe the migrant situation is a crisis, up from 38% in May. Meanwhile, 63% said the Biden administration should be tougher on immigrants attempting to cross the border, 16% said the administration should be easier on migrants, and 21% believe the president is handling the situation just right.
In May, the poll found that Americans were evenly divided about southern border states sending migrants to northern cities. But now, it is facing growing disapproval, with 57% disapproving. CBS said more than 2,100 Americans were interviewed for this survey.
First U.S. Moon landing mission in decades launches into space
It was also the first flight for Vulcan, which has been under development for a decade by United Launch Alliance, a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The lunar lander called Peregrine was developed by the Pittsburgh-based company Astrobotic Technology.
The lander was carrying multiple scientific deliveries on board, including five experiments from NASA. If successful, Peregrine would be the first American spacecraft to land on the moon since the final Apollo mission in 1972, and if all goes right, it is set to touch down on the Moon on Feb. 23.
‘Oppenheimer,’ ‘Succession’ win big at Golden Globes
After 2023 saw two Hollywood strikes, it was time to celebrate the year in film and television at the 81st annual Golden Globes Sunday night, Jan. 7. It was a big night for the movie “Oppenheimer,” not only did Christopher Nolan win for best director and Cillian Murphy win for best actor, but the film itself took home the Golden Globe for best picture for a drama. The movie “Poor Things” won for best comedy or musical.
As for the top-grossing film of the year, “Barbie,” it was the winner of the first-ever Golden Globe for cinematic or box office achievement, an award recognizing blockbuster movies.
Meanwhile, over on the TV side, it proved to be a successful night for “Succession,” which won four categories, including best drama series. Meanwhile, “The Bear” took home the award for best comedy series.
US military’s mysterious space plane launches via SpaceX rocket
The U.S. military’s X-37B robot space plane blasted off on another secretive mission Thursday night, Dec. 28, this time with the help of SpaceX. The plane, resembling a mini space shuttle, has no crew on board and carries classified experiments.
Not much is known about the secretive air craft that China launched, media outlets report that experts believe it is similar to the X-37B in function. China’s launch, just weeks before the X-37B’s launch marks the latest leg in the competitive space race between the U.S. and China.
Where the U.S. space plane is headed for in its seventh mission is anyone’s guess. The U.S. Space Force disclosed few details, but since the plane was launched by SpaceX’s powerful rocket, experts suggest X-37B could be heading for distant orbits, like the Moon or Mars.
We know one test the plane is carrying, a NASA experiment to study how plant seeds are affected by the radiation in space, but other than that, the goals of the military’s space plane remain a mystery. When the space plane returns to Earth, the X-37B will reenter the atmosphere and land on a runway like a commercial airplane.
Massive Russian missile attack on Ukraine kills at least 12: The Morning Rundown, Dec. 29, 2023
At least a dozen people are dead after Russia launched one of its largest missile attacks on Ukraine. And the U.S. military’s space plane takes off on a secret mission with the help of a SpaceX rocket. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, Dec. 29, 2023.
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Ukrainian officials said most of Russia’s missiles, as well as drones, were shot down, but not all. The strikes killed at least 12 civilians, with dozens reported injured and many others believed to be buried under rubble.
The approximately 18-hour barrage began Thursday, Dec. 28, and continued through the night, hitting six cities, including the capital, Kyiv, with the mayor confirming at least two people were killed there. The Ukrainian Air Force spokesman said Russia “apparently launched everything they have.” The attack comes days after Ukraine struck a Russian landing warship in Crimea.
Israeli army admits fault in two deadly strikes on Gaza
The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said the two strikes killed at least 70 people. An Israeli military official told Israel’s public broadcaster that an improper choice of munition was to blame. The military said it “regrets the harm to uninvolved individuals and is working to draw lessons from the incident.”
The Gaza Health Ministry said more than 21,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, though the U.S. has cast doubt on its figures in the past since Hamas controls the agency.
Maine drops Trump from ballot, Trump remains on California ballot
I am also mindful, however, that no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection.
“I am mindful that no secretary of state has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment,” Bellows wrote about her decision. “I am also mindful, however, that no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection.”
Colorado’s secretary of state said Trump will remain on the state’s ballot until the U.S. Supreme Court weighs in on the case following an appeal by the Colorado Republican Party.
The Trump campaign said it would appeal Maine’s decision to the state court system.
The ruling further heightens tensions around U.S. elections as calls for the U.S. Supreme Court to step in grow louder.
In California, the most populated state in the country, the secretary of state ruled Thursday night that Trump will remain on the state’s ballot in 2024, echoing recent decisions in Michigan and Minnesota.
The terms of Thursday’s Dec. 28 settlement were not disclosed, but the lawsuit filed in 2020 covered “millions” of Google users and sought at least $5,000 in damages per user. A federal judge in California had scheduled a February 2024 trial date for the case, but that has been put on hold as the settlement is finalized.
US population grew by nearly 2 million in 2023
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. population grew by 1.75 million people in 2023. When the clock strikes midnight on 2023, the bureau estimates the U.S. population will be 335,893,238. According to the bureau’s data released on Thursday, Dec. 28, the majority of growth happened in the South and the West, with smaller population growth in the Midwest and the Northeast.
The agency added that the U.S. will likely see one birth every 9 seconds and one death every 9.5 seconds in January, and immigration is expected to account for one new person every 28.3 seconds. Overall, it is estimated that the U.S. will grow by one person every 24.2 seconds.
Fast-forward to 2080, and the Census Bureau says the U.S. population could be as high as 370 million. The U.S. is the third most populated country in the world, behind only China and India. Globally, the population grew by 75 million people in 2023, surpassing 8 billion people. According to the census data, the world expects to see 4.3 births and two deaths every second in January.
U.S. military’s mysterious spaceplane launches via SpaceX rocket
This was the first time the plane was launched atop SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Where the space plane is headed for in its seventh mission is anyone’s guess. The U.S. Space Force disclosed few details, but since the plane was launched by SpaceX’s powerful rocket, experts suggest X-37B could be heading for distant orbits, like the moon or Mars.
We know one test the plane is carrying, a NASA experiment to study how plant seeds are affected by the radiation in space, but other than that, the goals of the military’s space plan remain a mystery.