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Charles Dharapak / AP The Pentagon Is Almost Ready for Its Close-Up
The Trump administration is pledging to audit the Department of Defense for the first time in its history while simultaneously demanding a record spending increase. Can it do both?
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How Two Mississippi College Students Fell in Love and Decided to Join a Terrorist Group
In three short months, Jaelyn Young and Muhammad Dakhlalla found themselves at the center of America’s debate over radicalization.
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U.S. Navy / AP A Soldier's Dilemma
In 2016, Captain Nathan Smith sued President Obama for issuing an order to engage in the battle against ISIS without congressional approval. Can his case clarify the debate over President Trump’s strikes in Syria?
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Joshua Roberts / Reuters What Lies Ahead for Obama's Countering Violent Extremism Program?
A new report confirms the skepticism of civil libertarians. But if the initiative is discontinued, will its replacement be any better?
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Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP President Trump's 'Hard Power' Budget
Allocating more money for defense and a lot less for diplomacy, the White House is unveiling a spending proposal that’s meant to reflect campaign promises more than it’s meant to get through Congress.
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Getty / Chip Somodevilla / Zak Bickel / ... How the FBI Is Hobbled by Religious Illiteracy
The Bureau has long defended “Judeo-Christianity.” Minority groups have not fared as well.
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Mike Segar / Reuters Why Flynn's Resignation Matters
A senior American official was compromised by his relationship with a foreign government. Who else has ties to the Russian state?
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Kate Munsch / Reuters Will the Courts Find Trump's Ban Unconstitutional?
The outcome of the battle over Trump’s travel ban focused on seven mostly Muslim nations is hard to predict.
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Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP Don't Politicize the Failed Yemen Raid
America cannot punish its elected officials for allowing its military, diplomatic corps, and intelligence services to take risks necessary to pursue its interests.
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Alex Brandon / AP What Trump's Reshuffling of the National Security Council Means
The president made significant changes to the council’s most influential committees, but the real concern is whether he will incorporate it into his decision-making process at all.
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Shakh Aivazov / AP How the Political World Is Reacting to Trump's Immigration Order
The executive order drew criticism from several prominent Republicans but support from party leaders. Democrats roundly denounced the policy.
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Jonathan Ernst / Reuters Obama Built an ‘Infrastructure’ for Civil-Liberties Violations That Trump Will Inherit
In his farewell address, the president highlighted his legacy on national-security issues, but his actions may have opened the way for future abuses.
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Mike Segar / Reuters Coming Soon to the U.S. Army: Turbans, Beards, Hijabs, and Dreadlocks
In the final days of the Obama administration, the military has issued new guidelines for religious accommodations and dress.
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Susan Walsh / AP Why Trump Wants to Ground the Next Air Force One
The president-elect borrows an idea from his predecessor, using his bully pulpit to take on Boeing and a costly new set of wings.
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Kim Hong-Ji / Reuters Will the Department of Defense Invest in People or Technology?
The Trump administration will determine the future of the Third Offset, a plan for ensuring the long-term competitive advantage of the U.S. armed forces.
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Evan Vucci / AP Trump's Unimpressive Support From Military Leaders
His campaign announced endorsements from 88 retired generals and admirals. That’s nice, but 500 backed Mitt Romney in 2012.
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Andrew Harnik / AP Why the U.S. Still Can't Track Visitors Who Overstay Their Visas
Proposed “entry-exit” systems seem simple but have succumbed to real-world complications.
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Adrees Latif / Reuters Terrorism Only Works on Nations That Aren’t Ready for It
Since 9/11, national-security officials have made policy on a myth of American invulnerability. They should have been preparing everyday citizens for the worst in order to make the country stronger.
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Andrew Harnik / AP House Republicans Push Back on Trump’s Foreign Policy
GOP leaders have crafted an agenda that bears little resemblance to their presidential candidate’s stated vision.
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Lucas Jackson / Reuters Trump's Libya Quagmire
The presumptive Republican nominee tries to draw a contrast between himself and Hillary Clinton, but both of them supported U.S. involvement in both Libya and Iraq.
