Defense
Lockheed-Backed Reps Lobby Against F-35 Spending Cuts
As the F-35 fighter comes under Pentagon review for potential cuts, bipartisan groups of lawmakers are calling to continue high levels of spending on the troubled $1.7 trillion program.
Top Stories
Biden’s Likely Ambassador to China Is Entangled In Tech and Defense
By Jonathan Guyer Tech Primary category in which blog post is published
Blue Dog Rep Jim Cooper Gets Progressive Primary Challenger
By David Moore Brick House Cooperative Primary category in which blog post is published
Military Equipment Transfers to Police Have Picked Back Up
By Donald Shaw Brick House Cooperative Primary category in which blog post is published
House Progressives Ask Biden to Significantly Cut the Pentagon Budget
By David Moore Brick House Cooperative Primary category in which blog post is published
Rules Package Closes Witness Conflicts Loophole
For the first time, witnesses to Congress will have to disclose all entities they are affiliated with that have an interest in the topic of the hearing.
House Dem in Charge of Military Budget Opposes Cuts Favored by Progressives
House Armed Services Committee chair Adam Smith (D-Wash.), a top recipient of PAC money from weapons makers, has called some Democrats "extremists" for wanting to reduce the Defense Department's $740.5 billion budget.
Hawkish Dem Sherman is Next in Line to Replace Engel as Foreign Affairs Chairman
With the ouster of Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), progressives are calling for the position to be filled by someone not beholden to special interests. Next in line for the position by seniority, however, is Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) who is heavily funded by the defense industry and pro-Israel PACs.
Dems Voting Against Pentagon Cuts Got 3.4x More Money From the Defense Industry
The Pocan amendment, rejected by defense-backed Democrats and all Republicans, would have cut next year's military budget by 10%.
Law Enforcement PACs Give Millions to the Politicians Who Set Their Budgets
Police groups have donated almost $15 million to state and local elected officials since 2015, with two-thirds going to Democrats, according to new data from the NoMoreCopMoney project.
Engel’s Top Donor is an AIPAC-Tied Group That Backs Powerful GOP Politicians
Pro-Israel America PAC has given Engel at least $127,981 this cycle.
‘Dark Money’ Groups Back Engel Against Progressive Challenger Bowman
Two nonprofits, recently incorporated in Delaware, have spent $260,000 on ads and mailers backing Engel. The groups are not required to reveal their donors.
Verizon and AT&T Partner With Pro-Police Militarization Lobbying Group
The National Sheriff's Association, which counts the telco giants as "platinum partners," lobbies Congress to make the Defense Department's 1033 military equipment transfer program permanent.
As His District Became a Coronavirus Hotspot, Engel Jetted to Florida Resort
The Florida fundraiser was just the beginning of Rep. Eliot Engel’s (D-N.Y.) absence from his district as it suffered from one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in the country.
