Intel Watch — signal over noise.
National Security & Defense
Pentagon, DoD authorization & appropriations, force posture, defense industrial base, congressional defense activity.
- Defense Watch: LWCLU Award, Dutch FMS, UGVs in UKR, Drone U, Vectis Overseasby Defense Daily Staff on October 23, 2026
LWCLU Award. RTX’s Raytheon said on Oct. 19 that its Javelin Joint Venture (JJV) with Lockheed Martin has received a $215 million production contract for the missile’s […]
- Defense Business Brief: A little bit of MOSA; Netherlands-U.S. industry days, and moreby Lauren C. Williams on October 23, 2026
<![CDATA[Military buyers want to move quickly, which can mean companies need to add new tech to vehicles after they’re built. Now, Oshkosh Defense is building a dedicated […]
- The Pentagon has gone too far in using the Other Transaction Authority. Congress should act.by Julia Gledhill on October 22, 2026
Created in 1958 for NASA, the obscure fiscal tool has since become the predominant approach to military contracting – at great risk to taxpayers, one researcher warns.
- Pentagon, Lockheed agree to decade-long F-35 framework deal for hundreds of jetsby Michael Marrow and Valerie Insinna on October 22, 2026
The tentative agreement, which still needs lawmakers’ blessing, covers production and sustainment over the 10 years.
Intelligence Community
ODNI, CIA, NSA, NRO, intelligence authorization, congressional oversight, FISA, and emerging tech in the IC.
- Russia targets Democrats and Ukraine supporters ahead of midterms, top intel lawmakers sayby David DiMolfetta on October 22, 2026
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., described Russian disinformation and more targeted Chinese influence efforts during a press roundtable, while reporting […]
- Critical flaws in ubiquitous website software draw urgent warning from NSA, FBIby David DiMolfetta on October 21, 2026
Organizations should immediately update to the latest version of PHP or take systems offline, agencies say.
- Pentagon to start expanding Greenland bases next year: officialby Meghann Myers on October 20, 2026
The U.S. is looking at upgrades to support cargo, fighter aircraft, and more troops.
- State Department orders staff to call AI ‘super intelligence’by David DiMolfetta and Jory Heckman on October 20, 2026
An internal cable from the agency extends Trump’s terminology change to emails, speeches, websites and official titles.
Homeland Security
DHS, CISA, FEMA, ICE, CBP, TSA, border, critical infrastructure protection, and congressional oversight of homeland missions.
- CISA vulnerability response chief departing agency after nearly six yearsby David DiMolfetta on October 23, 2026
Lindsey Cerkovnik helped oversee agency efforts to track software flaws. She plans to start a new role in November.
- PHP flaws draw millions of hacking attempts amid global push for fixesby David DiMolfetta on October 22, 2026
Cloudflare reported millions of attempts to exploit the widely used web software, while researchers warned that compromised sites could also put visitors at risk.
- Russia targets Democrats and Ukraine supporters ahead of midterms, top intel lawmakers sayby David DiMolfetta on October 22, 2026
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., described Russian disinformation and more targeted Chinese influence efforts during a press roundtable, while reporting […]
- US agencies urge fixes for programming language flaws putting millions of web systems at riskby David DiMolfetta on October 21, 2026
The flaws in the widely used website software known as PHP could expose data and let hackers seize control.
On the Hill
Floor action, committee markups, hearings, leadership statements, member activity touching national security.
- Bipartisan lawmakers press Hegseth to expand Ukraine’s access to Starshieldby Mike Lillis on October 23, 2026
A bipartisan group of House and Senate lawmakers is pressing the Trump administration to restore and expand Ukraine’s access to Starshield satellite systems, warning that a […]
- Costs, Iran voters' top priorities for next Congress: Surveyby Max Rego on October 22, 2026
A majority of respondents to a recent survey want the next Congress to focus on lowering the cost of living and winding down the Iran war. Roughly 80 percent of the 1,119 […]
- Texas congressman says he and family are safe after threatby Tara Suter on October 22, 2026
Rep. Keith Self (R-Texas) on Wednesday said he and his family are safe in the wake of an assassination threat from a 17-year-old. “I am grateful to the FBI and law enforcement […]
- Lawsuit alleges DHS effort to collect detailed state voter data violates federal lawby ALI SWENSON, Associated Press on October 15, 2026
NEW YORK (AP) — A lawsuit filed Thursday challenges the Trump administration's sprawling effort to collect and analyze Americans' voter data, alleging the government has […]