US military to appeal Hawaii’s order to drain fuel tanks
February 1, 2022 GMTHONOLULU (AP) — A top U.S. military official said Monday the Defense Department will appeal Hawaii's order that it drain fuel from a massive tank farm that leaked petroleum into the Navy's water system and contaminated Pearl Harbor's tap water.
Pentagon chief Austin says he has tested positive for COVID
January 3, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Sunday he has tested positive for COVID-19 and was experiencing mild symptoms while quarantining at home.
In a statement Sunday night, Austin said he plans to attend key meetings and discussions virtually in the coming week “to the degree possible.” He said Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks would represent him in appropriate matters.
More Marines discharged over vaccine refusal, total at 169
December 23, 2021 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — The Marine Corps discharged 66 Marines in the past week for refusing to get the coronavirus vaccine as mandated by the military, outpacing the other services at discipline related to the shots.
Defense secretary monitoring Navy fuel spill in Hawaii
December 14, 2021 GMTHONOLULU (AP) — U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said he is monitoring the Navy's handling of jet fuel contamination in its Pearl Harbor drinking water system.
In a statement Monday, Austin said he is “personally monitoring” the situation at a fuel storage facility in Hawaii, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.
Pentagon mandates COVID-19 vaccine for civilian workers
October 4, 2021 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — All civilians who work for the Defense Department and the military services must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by Nov. 22, under new guidelines released Monday.
A memo signed by Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks on Friday said the new mandate is in line with the presidential directive issued last month requiring federal agencies to implement vaccine requirements.
King: Congress will restore destroyer funding to budget
July 7, 2021 GMTBATH,Maine (AP) — U.S. Sen. Angus King said Wednesday that a destroyer that was cut from the budget by the Biden administration will be restored by Congress.
“The president proposes, but Congress disposes, so we’ll have the final word on this budget,” said King, who called the destroyer's attempted removal ”a strategic and financial mistake.”
Senate confirms Wormuth as first female Army secretary
May 27, 2021 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Christine Wormuth was confirmed unanimously by the Senate on Thursday to be the first female secretary of the Army.
Wormuth, who led President Joe Biden’s transition team at the Pentagon, got an overwhelmingly warm reception from members of the Senate Armed Services Committee during a hearing this month.
Senate panel likely to OK 1st female Army secretary
May 13, 2021 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — The woman poised to be the first female secretary of the Army told Congress Thursday that combating sexual assault and harassment is a top priority, and said greater prevention is needed, including more training to encourage soldiers to step in when they see bad behavior by others.
Pentagon reconsidering huge JEDI cloud-computing contract
May 10, 2021 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon is reconsidering how to make a massive shift to cloud computing, officials said Monday, suggesting it could scrap the so-called JEDI contract potentially worth $10 billion that was awarded to Microsoft Corp...