All articles tagged with #dod
OpenAI announced an agreement with the Defense Department to deploy its AI models on the DoD’s classified network under safety terms, a move that follows the Trump administration’s designation of Anthropic as a supply‑chain risk and its directive to halt using Anthropic’s tech. Anthropic plans a court challenge, while OpenAI emphasizes its safety safeguards and urges similar terms for all AI firms.
The Defense Department says it used counter-UAS authorities to shoot down a U.S. Customs and Border Protection drone with a laser near Fort Hancock, Texas; a temporary FAA flight restriction was issued around the area, no commercial aircraft were affected, and lawmakers criticized the apparent lack of coordination between agencies.
Anthropic is in a high-stakes clash with the Pentagon over an “any lawful use” clause that could authorize DoD deployment of Claude for mass surveillance and autonomous weapons. A threat to label Anthropic a “supply chain risk” could end its DoD contract and force military contractors to drop its tech, reshaping defense AI. Negotiations, led by DoD CTO Emil Michael, center on DoD’s push for speed and expansive usage versus Anthropic’s red lines—no autonomous weapons or broad domestic surveillance—while other AI firms renegotiated contracts. If DoD moves against Anthropic, Claude’s unique status on classified networks could leave the Pentagon exposed to single-source risk.
Sen. Mark Kelly filed a federal lawsuit against the Pentagon and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, alleging punitive actions tied to his participation in a Democratic video to U.S. troops violated the Constitution, including the Speech or Debate Clause and due‑process protections; the suit also names the Navy Department. The Pentagon has not commented on ongoing litigation, and Hegseth had announced a plan to cut Kelly’s retired pay amid the dispute.
The DoD plans to deploy Elon Musk’s Grok AI across all Pentagon unclassified and classified networks later this month as part of an expansive AI acceleration strategy, joining other major vendors under GenAI.mil; the move underscores a push for data-sharing across services, even as Grok faces ongoing image-generation controversies and regulatory blocks in several countries.
The Department of Defense has conducted at least 14 strikes against boats suspected of drug smuggling, primarily transporting cocaine, but officials cannot confirm the identities of those killed, raising concerns about oversight and effectiveness among lawmakers.
The Department of Defense accepted an anonymous $130 million donation to help cover troop salaries and benefits, following a period of withheld pay due to political disagreements. The donation is intended for military pay support, but details on its allocation are unclear, and it faces regulatory scrutiny due to its size and donor origin.
The Department of Defense has decided to keep the current system for moving service members' household goods, reversing plans to privatize it, and will instead focus on improving and modernizing the existing program over the next three years, following industry and military feedback and addressing previous issues with rates and service quality.
SpaceX is scheduled to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Saturday, carrying 24 Starlink satellites to support Department of Defense communications, with a launch window from 8:41 a.m. to 12:41 p.m., and the second stage set to land on a drone ship in the Pacific Ocean.
The Pentagon is set to introduce a revamped Risk Management Framework (RMF) by the end of November, including 10 new principles aimed at streamlining software accreditation and enhancing cybersecurity, alongside initiatives like the Software Fast Track and mission network as-a-service to accelerate secure software deployment and improve network security across combatant commands.
The Office of Strategic Capital has issued its first direct loan of $150 million to MP Materials to enhance heavy rare earth separation capabilities, part of a broader effort to strengthen the U.S. critical minerals supply chain and industrial base, funded by legislation signed into law in July 2025.
Pentagon officials are upset over a new ban on attending public events and think tanks, which limits transparency, hampers foreign allies' understanding of U.S. military policies, and restricts engagement with defense industry and academic institutions, potentially weakening international alliances and innovation.
US troops, specifically 90 members of the California National Guard, supported an immigration enforcement operation in Los Angeles by establishing a security perimeter to protect federal agents, involving military vehicles and personnel, with the operation details and targets not fully disclosed.
The Pentagon has appointed Maj. Gen. Lance Curtis to lead a new task force to improve the military's Permanent Change of Station (PCS) process, following the termination of the HomeSafe Alliance contractor. Immediate measures include handling household moves through the legacy system and increasing reimbursements for Personally Procured Moves, with a review of the entire process underway and a strategic reform plan due by September 2025.
OpenAI has secured a $200 million contract from the U.S. Department of Defense to develop AI prototypes for various national security applications, which may impact its relationship with Microsoft, its major investor, as the DoD also works directly with Microsoft for cloud services and AI solutions.