Today is my first day as a defense reporter at CQ Roll Call! Very excited to dive back into the congressional defense beat with a great team. Send tips/re-add me to your press lists/say hello at [email protected]. I'm also still on Signal at rhkheel.52.

Here Are the 596 Books Being Banned by Defense Department Schools www.military.com/daily-news/2...

Senate pares back cuts to food stamps for troops and their families, but cuts are still there - @kheel.bsky.social with the story

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested Wednesday that the Trump administration could send troops to any city in America over the objections of state and local officials, as it is doing now in Los Angeles. Story by @kheel.bsky.social

Nearly 300 alumni from across the military service academies have signed an open letter telling transgender cadets and midshipmen they are "in no way incompatible" with military values amid the Trump administration's efforts to ban transgender troops. My story: www.military.com/daily-news/2...

"How are soldiers supposed to interpret this?" an Army brigade commander said. "It's a cartoonish lapse in security." Story by @stevenbeynon.bsky.social, @ktoropin.bsky.social, @dflawrence.bsky.social + @kheel.bsky.social

Been remiss in not doing this earlier, but today seems like as good a day as any: If you have any news tips or other information you want to share discreetly (either intentionally or inadvertently), you can use the QR code below to find me on Signal

Extreme, unprecedented firings planned for VA under the direction of Elon Musk. "VA, in partnership with our DOGE leads, will move out aggressively ..." Mass terminations could imperil the recent extension of benefits to veterans sickened by toxic exposures. Story by @kheel.bsky.social

NEW from me and @ktoropin.bsky.social: Ethics experts raise concerns about Trump’s pick to lead the Joint Chiefs given his role with a Kushner investment firm. Also, the officer’s VMI classmates worry that Trump may try and put the general in a precarious position. www.military.com/daily-news/2...

NEW from @militarydotcom.bsky.social - We spent all week trying to figure out what's going on with Sec Hegseth and his $137K house repairs Seems the DoD doesn't want to offer details They did confirm he'll pay rent w/@stevenbeynon.bsky.social, @kheel.bsky.social www.military.com/daily-news/2...

Scoop: The Navy is already rejecting transgender recruits even though Trump's trans ban executive order gave the Pentagon 60 days to implement the policy www.military.com/daily-news/2...

Hegseth confirmed as only the second ever cabinet member pushed over the finish line by a VP - reporting by @kheel.bsky.social

Hegseth Grilled About Women in Combat, Officer Purge in Confirmation Hearing

Biden Administration Closing Without Fulfilling Promise to Provide Gender-Affirmation Surgery to Transgender Vets

The Top 10 Military.com News Stories of 2024

Quick hit on military paychecks surviving the budget brinksmanship from @kheel.bsky.social

Troop Pay Could Be Delayed Under Elon Musk-Inspired Government Shutdown

The military promotion of the last U.S. soldier to leave Afghanistan is being held up by GOP Sen. Markwayne Mullin, a Senate aide confirmed to Military.com on Friday. NEW from @kheel.bsky.social

A DOGE plan by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to slash government funding could kneecap Department of Veterans Affairs health care. New from @kheel.bsky.social

NEW: Senior officers and other instructors have taken advantage of the Army's little oversight over ROTC -- where young women are groomed, assaulted, harassed, and, in some cases - raped. Those women do not have clear mechanisms to report abuse. www.military.com/daily-news/2...