Intel Watch — signal over noise.
National Security & Defense
Pentagon, DoD authorization & appropriations, force posture, defense industrial base, congressional defense activity.
- Why Trump invoked the Defense Production Act nowby Breaking Defense Video on June 22, 2026
“It’s a way for us to communicate and leverage industry,” said Michael Cadenazzi, the assistant secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy.
- Defense Watch: Abrams Update, SSN-788 Ready, UAS and C-UAS News, FMS Dealsby Defense Daily Staff on June 18, 2026
Back to USPACOM. The Defense Department last week changed the name of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) to U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM), reversing a name change the first […]
- NDAA provisions would reshape Pentagon’s use of ownership stakes in private companiesby Lauren C. Williams on June 18, 2026
A Senate defense panel aims to place guardrails on direct equity investments, create an oversight board, and require briefings.
- Pentagon inks pair of rare earth mineral loans for $1.2 billionby Ashley Roque on June 18, 2026
“You can dream all day long about scaling [weapons production but] if you don’t have germanium, gallium, and rare earths, it is a pipe dream,” said Michael Cadenazzi, the […]
Intelligence Community
ODNI, CIA, NSA, NRO, intelligence authorization, congressional oversight, FISA, and emerging tech in the IC.
- White House expected to direct intelligence agencies to protect quantum research from foreign threatsby Alexandra Kelley and David DiMolfetta on June 22, 2026
The executive order is expected this week and tasks the departments of Defense and Energy to build and host a quantum computer for scientific discovery.
- Intelligence director hearing cancelled as Trump pushes voter-restriction billby David DiMolfetta on June 17, 2026
The move sets up an inexperienced loyalist to become acting national intelligence director on Friday.
- Intelligence director hearing cancelled as Trump pushes for controversial voter billby David DiMolfetta on June 17, 2026
The development guarantees that Bill Pulte — whose selection to temporarily lead the office derailed a recent FISA vote — would start as acting national intelligence director […]
- US officials see Iran cyber threat persisting despite preliminary dealby David DiMolfetta on June 17, 2026
Officials’ views reflect a recurring concern that cyber operations would continue regardless of conflict status, even as the Trump administration pursues a diplomatic off-ramp […]
Homeland Security
DHS, CISA, FEMA, ICE, CBP, TSA, border, critical infrastructure protection, and congressional oversight of homeland missions.
- Planned NDAA amendment would codify CISA’s role in cyber vulnerability programby David DiMolfetta on June 18, 2026
The measure, expected as a proposed add-on to the government’s 2027 defense package, targets a bedrock cybersecurity vulnerability-tracking system after a contracting fiasco […]
- CISA now has full Mythos Preview access, people familiar sayby David DiMolfetta on June 17, 2026
The cyberdefense agency received access around a week ago, but the White House has not yet set clear parameters for how the agency should use the model.
- Warner presses CISA on whether staff cuts weakened regional cyber supportby David DiMolfetta on June 16, 2026
The Senate Intelligence Committee’s top Democrat is asking the cyber agency for workforce charts, vacancy details and service data as state and local support comes under strain.
- CISA directive revamps how agencies prioritize vulnerable systemsby David DiMolfetta on June 10, 2026
The move is part of CISA’s response “to the current threat landscape where AI software services can assist threat actors to find and exploit vulnerabilities,” the agency […]
On the Hill
Floor action, committee markups, hearings, leadership statements, member activity touching national security.
- This week: Lawmakers feel the summer sweatby Valerie Yurk and Savannah Behrmann on June 22, 2026
The solstice this weekend marked the start of astronomical summer — and in Washington, D.C., that means the legislative clock is ticking. Lawmakers are eager to head home and […]
- NATO chief, Trump to meet at White House amid tensionsby Ellen Mitchell on June 19, 2026
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is set to travel next week to Washington to meet with President Trump amid tensions over the U.S. cutting the number of troops and equipment it […]
- White House officials bid farewell to Air Force One plane used since 1990by Mallory Wilson on June 19, 2026
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to indicate the Boeing 747 "29000" is not being retired by the Air Force. President Trump became the last president to fly aboard one […]
- AI deepfakes bill advanced by Senate Judiciary Committeeby Allison Mollenkamp on June 18, 2026
Unauthorized deepfake images generated by artificial intelligence would need to be removed from online platforms if they weren’t licensed by the person portrayed, under a bill […]