Experts see promise, risk in Pentagon’s draft acquisition reforms | A draft memo is circulating ahead of SecDef Hegseth’s Friday speech. buff.ly/utkSSyq

Memo lays out path to removing even more defense civilians from their jobs | The department, which has met its 8-percent overall reduction goal, is now going after “low performers.”

At NSA, a leadership vacuum and staff cuts threaten operations and morale | "That’s what happens when your boss disappears, and then some of your lead unicorns also disappear,” one person said.

COMMENTARY: What ‘House of Dynamite’ gets right and wrong about nuclear command and control | The Netflix film is good on process and tech, but has one major flaw.

Pentagon’s policy shop is ‘a pigpen-like’ mess: Sen. Cotton

The Air Force wants to put private AI data centers on its bases, raising security, land-use fears | The service will offer upwards of 3,000 acres across five U.S. bases to qualified developers.

New national security strategy could redefine homeland defense: experts | Recent budgets have prioritized innovation over deterrence, leaving a widening gap, according to a new report.

EXCLUSIVE: Hegseth fired the Air Force’s top lawyer. The JAG who took on the job is stepping away.

Defense Trade Press Statement on Media Restrictions at the Pentagon buff.ly/iwYFYjV

It took 45 days to rush drone defenses to CENTCOM. That’s no longer good enough: Army vice chief | Agile funding could have cut that down to a few days, Gen. Mingus says.

China is ‘pacing threat,’ Army Secretary says—while backing Trump’s homeland defense push | Driscoll’s comments follow Pentagon documents detailing shift away from Indo-Pacific.

Dismount before contact: Learning to fight with the infantry squad vehicle | How the Army is adapting to protect soldiers in its new open-air dune buggy.

Amid shutdown, the Army will do its best to talk transformation, counter-drones, and acquisition reform | AUSA's annual meeting is slated to feature a rare public discussion of Pentagon’s new homeland focus.

Homeland pivot isn't affecting troops in South Korea, so far: commander | Soldiers are “being fed,” “still training” amid government shutdown, 8th Army commander says.

Anduril debuts Eagle Eye, a modular, AI-powered soldier headset | One variant is being pitched for the Army’s Soldier Borne Mission Command program.

Sikorsky’s unmanned U-HAWK is a UH-60L minus the cockpit | As Army mulls retiring its Black Hawks, company touts variant that can carry more while freeing up aircrew.

EXCLUSIVE: Startup aims to reinvent battlefield medicine for the drone era | High-intensity conflict will require better connected, more defendable field hospitals for longer term care.

SecDef uses unprecedented meeting to unveil 10 personnel, due-process reviews | After summoning senior officers from around the world, Hegseth invites them to resign if they don’t agree with him. buff.ly/6KoejKy

Inside NATO’s response to Russia’s violation of Estonian airspace | Russia’s increasing violations of NATO met with new radars, missiles, “calm heads.” By Patrick Tucker, reporting from Estonia:

ANALYSIS: China’s new missiles on parade: showpieces or showstoppers? | The Sept. 3 parade was clearly meant to convey China's growing military strength and technological ambition.

When China plays orbital hide-and-seek, Maui’s telescopes give the US an edge | In an interview, Space Force’s Saltzman reveals what’s next for the key sensor site.

China, China, Chi—wait, what? Air Force mulls next steps amid homeland focus | Officials tout applicability of ongoing modernization, but experts and former officials have doubts.

EXCLUSIVE: More than 60K defense civilians have left under Hegseth—but officials are mum on the effects | Months into a hastily ordered overhaul, officials declined to disclose metrics, discuss problems.

Agencies should prep for mass layoffs if shutdown occurs, White House says | OMB is requesting updated reduction-in-force plans even if a shutdown is averted. buff.ly/eytcrZa

BREAKING: General Atomics’ collaborative combat aircraft notches first flight | Competitor Anduril says their version will fly “soon.”

The Army is equipping its Black Hawks to launch drones | But how long will the venerable rotorcraft keep its central role as the service transforms?

Pentagon reductions set back critical AI-data platform | After users flocked to Advana, DOD’s AI office laid out a plan to keep it growing. Then came DOGE.

ODNI to shrink further under new reorganization plan | Tulsi Gabbard said her office will cut more staff as part of a restructuring aimed in part at “ending the weaponization of intelligence.”

How the Marines’ attack drone team is defining UAV warfare | A competition to find the Corps’ best operators begins this fall.

COMMENTARY: What National Guardsmen in the nation’s capital need to hear | You have every right to expect a clear mission, an unambiguous chain of command, and appropriate training.

Navy to cut at least a third of its civilian public-affairs staff | The service is also centralizing all PAO hiring and contracting.

In surprise, USAF chief announces upcoming retirement | Gen. Allvin will leave about halfway through his expected term, but will stay on until a replacement is found.

COMMENTARY: AI is about to reshape command structures that haven’t changed much since Napoleon | I explored the possibilities with a team of researchers at CSIS' Futures Lab. Here's what we found.

Trump’s national defense strategy is focused on the homeland. So far, that has included troops in the streets. | by @meghannmyers_

COMMENTARY: How big will China’s nuclear arsenal get? | No one knows, but we can game out potential endpoints of Beijing’s buildup.

COMMENTARY: How the National Guard’s domestic missions build deterrence | The Guard’s citizen-soldiers and -airmen boost American resiliency, complicating any adversary’s calculations.

Commentary by retired Gen. Charles Flynn: The Army’s role in the Pacific | Deterrence can’t be achieved with maritime or air systems alone.

Pentagon confirms it’s holding up weapons promised to Ukraine | Spokesman declined to say which weapons affected, when munitions review began, or who recommended the pause.

Commentary by Sen. Roger Wicker and Rep. Mike Rogers: Defense reconciliation bill begins rebuild and transformation of our military | The cost of deterring war will always be dwarfed by the cost of fighting one.

The future of homeland missile defense, from NORAD to the private sector. Join Maj. Gen. Mark Piper, Doug Loverro, and Masao Dahlgren at the Defense One Tech Summit, tomorrow in Pentagon City. Register → buff.ly/XPVGCVh

US strike set back Iran's nuclear effort a few months: early intel assessment | A preliminary report by the Defense Intelligence Agency contradicts White House, SecDef on the results of Saturday's bunker-busting mission.

Leslie Beavers, DOD Principal Deputy CIO, will deliver the keynote on digital transformation at the Defense One Tech Summit, tomorrow in Pentagon City. Don’t miss it → buff.ly/XPVGCVh

NATO chief to Europe: ‘Stop worrying’ about US, just increase spending | European officials hope the 5% defense-spending pledge will placate Trump. Audrey Decker reports from the NATO summit:

TOMORROW: DIU's David Payne, NGA's Trey Treadwell, and Shield AI's Brandon Tseng on a can’t-miss panel: Autonomy at War. Secure your spot for Defense One's Tech Summit now → buff.ly/XPVGCVh

The future of military tech is being built now. Join us Thursday in Pentagon City for the Defense One Tech Summit. Featuring Chris Brose (Anduril), Katrina Mulligan (OpenAI), Brandon Tseng (Shield AI) & more. Register now → buff.ly/XPVGCVh

Is an Iranian bomb now more or less likely? It depends on these factors: buff.ly/OLLONHG

COMMENTARY: For 250 years, it’s been ‘change or lose’ for our military. Here’s what needs changing now | A former commandant and a futurist take stock of Spider’s Web, Rising Lion, and more.

Americans more concerned about nuclear Iran than illegal immigration, survey finds | Public support continues to rise for U.S. leadership abroad in Reagan Institute poll.

US joins Iran-Israel war | Trump, who ordered strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, threatens more action. buff.ly/0r02Qg9

As CCAs make international debut, companies pitch European co-production | General Atomics said their robot wingman offering will be “far less than $20 million” a pop.