Top 5     Fort McCoy commander suspended after Trump portrait flipped to wall (The Associated Press) The U.S. Army has suspended a Wisconsin training base’s first female commander after discovering portraits of President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had been flipped around to face a wall.       Search underway for missing Nimitz sailor (Military Times) A sailor who disappeared during a scheduled port visit to Guam is still unaccounted for, according to local authorities and the U.S. Navy.       Army makes combat arms fitness test sex-neutral, drops ball throw (Military Times) The Army has reconfigured its fitness test, dropping the ball throw, making the test sex-neutral for combat arms and raising the minimum required score for 21 combat-focused jobs.       Officials launch task force to root out ‘anti-Christian bias’ in VA (Military Times) Veterans Affairs leaders launched a department-wide investigation into allegations of anti-Christian bias on Monday, asking employees to report fellow staffers for any “informal policies, procedures, or unofficial understandings hostile to Christian views.”       Nationwide doorstep delivery getting closer for commissary customers (Military Times) Commissary officials are getting close to awarding a contract for the doorstep delivery of groceries, said John Hall, director of the Defense Commissary Agency.   Ukraine     Kyiv hit by deadly Russian missile and drone attack - officials (BBC) At least nine people have been killed and more than 60 injured, including children, in an overnight Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine's capital Kyiv, local officials say.       Ukraine situation report: US peace plan stumbles after tumultuous day (The War Zone) During a very turbulent day in which the Trump administration saw its plans to end the war in Ukraine sputter, Vice President JD Vance said Kyiv would have to give up territory now held by Russia in any such deal. He also said Ukraine would have to accept the annexation of Crimea by Russia and a prohibition on joining the NATO alliance.   Pentagon     Hegseth changes Pentagon green room into impromptu makeup studio (Military Times) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has altered a space behind the Pentagon briefing room to use as a makeup studio before media appearances, defense officials confirmed.       Who’s Who in Defense: Mike Rounds, Chairman, Senate Armed Services (SASC) Subcommittee on Cybersecurity (Breaking Defense) Mike Rounds chairs the SACS’s Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, which is responsible for the policies and programs related to cyber forces and capabilities.       China’s rare-earth mineral squeeze will hit the Pentagon hard (Defense One) China is beginning to restrict exports of rare-earth minerals crucial to U.S. military might—a long-warned-of vulnerability that is becoming an urgent reality.       Can Hegseth’s push to in-source IT consulting at the Pentagon actually happen? (Breaking Defense) The recent memo signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directing a major shift in how the department handles IT consulting contracts has left some experts with pointed questions about how it’s supposed to be implemented, and whether the Pentagon can actually bring such services “in house.”       DOD kicks off review of major defense acquisition programs as Hegseth touts reforms (DefenseScoop) Pentagon officials launched a review of “all 72 active major defense acquisitions programs” this week to determine changes or cancellations that could be made based on President Donald Trump’s recent executive order that aims to transform how the government buys equipment and services for military and civilian personnel, according to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.   Congress & Politics     A dozen states sue the Trump administration to stop tariff policy (The Associated Press) A dozen states sued the Trump administration in the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York on Wednesday to stop its tariff policy, saying it is unlawful and has brought chaos to the American economy.       Trump signs executive orders on school discipline, education reform (The Hill) President Trump signed multiple executive orders on Wednesday targeting the country’s education system, from discipline in K-12 schools to how universities are accredited.       Harvard's president says the school will 'not compromise' on its rights with the Trump admin (NBC News) The head of Harvard University doubled down on his defiance against the Trump administration Wednesday, saying the Ivy League school would not compromise on certain issues despite the federal government’s threat to freeze more than $2 billion in funding.   Army     US Army ups ammo output with new 155mm loading, packing plant (Defense News) The United States Army and General Dynamics have opened a new facility to load, assemble and pack 155mm high-explosive artillery munitions in Camden, Arkansas.       Army looks at vibrating seats and ‘3-D sound’ to keep drone operators on target (Task & Purpose) Army researchers plan to a demo this fall with audio and 'touch' cues for “overloaded” drone operators at Fort Novosel, Alabama.       Army continues 7-year streak, hitting retention goals early (Military Times) For the seventh year in a row, the United States Army has met or exceeded its retention goal. This time, the accomplishment comes nearly six months ahead of schedule.       Army sergeant found guilty in spree of barracks break-ins, rapes, and attempted murder (Task & Purpose) An Army sergeant who terrorized women living in the barracks at Fort Cavazos, Texas for over a year and a half was found guilty this week of dozens of violent crimes, including rape, attempted premediated murder, and kidnapping.       Army issues final environmental study in quest to renew lease on Hawaii live-fire range (Stars & Stripes) The Army’s plan to renew a lease for almost 20,000 acres of state land on Hawaii’s Big Island carries significant harmful effects on biological resources, cultural practices and environmental justice, according to the final environmental impact statement released Friday.   Navy     Navy Secretary John Phelan kills Biden-era climate plan (Breaking Defense) Navy Secretary John Phelan said he’s rescinding a Navy plan focused on combating climate change established by the Biden administration.   Marine Corps     Power returns to Marine base on Okinawa after 3-day blackout (Stars & Stripes) Electricity was restored to Camp Courtney on Tuesday evening following an outage that left at least 30 families without power for nearly three days, according to Marine officials on Okinawa.       Marines test supply drones inspired by narco subs in Okinawa, North Carolina (USNI News) Marine Corps Combat Logistics Battalions in Japan and the United States have been employing logistics supply drones inspired by drug-smuggling narco subs in recent exercises and tests.   Air Force     C-17 refuels off a commercial tanker for first time in AMC history (Air & Space Forces Magazine) Air Mobility Command, responsible for the Air Force’s airlift and tanker fleets, got some refueling help of its own from a commercial provider for the first time earlier this month.       Good luck figuring out the Air Force’s algorithm for shaving waivers (Task & Purpose) The Department of the Air Force’s process for determining if airmen and Space Force guardians should receive medical waivers for shaving is about as indecipherable as the infamous flow chart about counterinsurgency operations in Afghanistan from years ago.       Air Force still planning a nuclear microreactor in Alaska—and more after that (Air & Space Forces Magazine) By the end of this decade, the Air Force could begin equipping up to nine bases with self-sufficient nuclear microreactors as part of an effort to unplug from local commercial power grids and satisfy a growing demand for secure, reliable power sources that are more protected from cyberattacks and natural disasters.       Air Force Academy's staff cuts unclear amid mass resignations; Cadets assured of world-class education (The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.)) While the Air Force Academy sent a letter to incoming cadets early last week reassuring them of a quality education at the school, a definitive plan for layoffs among faculty and staff is still in the works.       Dozen F-16s join back-to-back exercises with the Philippines (Air & Space Forces Magazine) A dozen F-16s from Misawa Air Base are joining back-to-back exercises across the Philippines’ vast archipelago, including the northernmost major island less than 200 miles from Taiwan.   Space Force     US Space Force’s ‘space warfighting’ framework (USNI News) The following is the April 2025 U.S. Space Force document, SPACE WARFIGHTING: A Framework for Planners.   Your Military     Enlisted Australian sailors trained to use US nuclear attack subs (Military Times) In a major milestone of the trilateral AUKUS agreement, eight enlisted sailors and five officers of the Royal Australian Navy graduated last week from the U.S. Navy’s Nuclear Power Training Unit.       Guam plans state-of-the-art medical complex to address island’s health care challenges (Stars & Stripes) Guam is advancing plans to build a $743 million medical complex aimed at improving health care for its civilian and military populations, according to a spokeswoman for Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero.       Trump Justice Department urges court to allow transgender troop ban (CQ-Roll Call) The Trump administration urged a federal appellate court in Washington on Tuesday to allow the U.S. military to implement a ban on transgender people serving, telling the judges the government plans to fight the issue to the Supreme Court in a separate case.       Remains of Army veteran and her daughter identified 3 decades after deaths near Gilgo Beach (The Associated Press) A woman and toddler whose remains were discovered scattered along an oceanfront highway not far from the victims of Long Island’s infamous Gilgo Beach killings were identified Wednesday as an Army veteran from Alabama and her daughter.       Parents of soldier who died by suicide sue US over Army’s actions after he refused COVID-19 shot (Stars & Stripes) The parents of a 19-year-old soldier who died by suicide in 2021 say in a recently filed lawsuit that he faced months of threats, retaliation and bullying after objecting to getting the COVID-19 vaccine, court records show.   Military Culture & History     WWII dive bomber found on Pacific floor — with a bomb still attached, NOAA says (Miami Herald) A World War II bomber has been discovered 3 miles deep in the Pacific Ocean, and it’s still fully armed with an 83-year-old bomb fixed to the wing, NOAA Ocean Exploration says.       WWII human remains, artifacts discovered on Ie Shima during Okinawa film shoot (Stars & Stripes) A landscaper working on a historical film about the Battle of Okinawa uncovered human remains last summer on Ie Shima, marking the first such discovery on the island in more than 20 years, according to Japanese officials.       Silence to violence: What the bridge scene in ‘1917? says about war (Military Times) In Sam Mendes’ World War I epic “1917,” violence doesn’t always come with a warning. The film’s structure — appearing to unfold in a single continuous take — immerses viewers in a real-time mission that hinges on urgency, isolation and chance.   Cyber, Space & Unmanned     Raytheon, Tawazun sign term sheet to bring Coyote counter-UAS production to UAE (Breaking Defense) The United Arab Emirate’s procuring authority, Tawazun Council, has signed a term sheet with Raytheon to coproduce the American firm’s Coyote counter-unmanned aerial interceptor systems in the Emirates.       Acting Pentagon CIO signing off on new, faster cyber rules for contractors (Air & Space Forces Magazine) A new fast-track approval process for software on Defense Department networks will use AI tools to radically shorten a process that currently takes months or years, Acting Pentagon Chief Information Officer Katie Arrington said April 23.   Defense Industry     Northrop loses $477M on B-21 bomber as it revamps production process (Defense News) Northrop Grumman reported a $477 million loss on the B-21 Raider in the first quarter of 2025, as higher manufacturing and materials costs for making the sixth-generation stealth bomber squeeze the company.       Boeing’s defense arm is back in the black, but ‘not claiming victory’ yet (Defense One) Boeing’s defense unit reported no losses last quarter, returning to profitability after nearly a year. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg credited progress on several of its thorny programs, but cautioned that the Defense, Space & Security unit is not in the clear yet.       Saronic expands USV family with ‘Mirage’ and ‘Cipher’ (Breaking Defense) Defense start-up Saronic today unveiled two new variants of its family of autonomous surface vessels, dubbed Mirage and Cipher, which measure in at 40 and 60 feet long, respectively.       Nano-material breakthrough could revolutionize night vision (Defense One) A new way to make large ultrathin infrared sensors that don’t need cryogenic cooling could radically change night vision for the military or even autonomous vehicles.       New Arctic search and rescue watch adds durable features (Military Times) A company that’s been constructing military-grade watches for the U.S., Canada and other nations since World War II has added an arctic version of a premier search and rescue watch to its inventory.       DOD preparing for first large-scale demonstration of spectrum-sharing tech in 2025 (DefenseScoop) As Pentagon officials continue advocacy to prevent the military’s share of the electromagnetic spectrum from being sold to commercial industry, the Defense Department is looking to demonstrate emerging dynamic spectrum-sharing capabilities before the end of the year.   International     Spain launches $12B defense plan to meet NATO’s 2 percent GDP spending target (Breaking Defense) Spain has declared it will hit NATO’s 2 percent GDP defense spending mark this year after unveiling a €10.5 billion ($12 billion) military investment plan, ending decades of underfunding its armed forces and amid criticism by the Trump administration.       French Rafale fighters project power forward to Sweden (The War Zone) French Air and Space Force Rafale fighters are among the aircraft taking part in a power-projection exercise including operations over Sweden, which joined NATO a little over a year ago.       Chinese carrier Shandong deploys near the Philippines (USNI News) Chinese aircraft carrier CNS Shandong (17) once again deployed again to the Philippine Sea, marking the second time this month.       South Korea resumes live-fire training at artillery range near northern border (Stars & Stripes) The South Korean military resumed artillery practice this week at a firing range in Paju, the first such drill at the range near the northern border since the two Koreas suspended a deconfliction agreement last year.       What air defenses do the Houthis in Yemen actually have? (The War Zone) Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen have proven to have an air defense arsenal that presents real threats, as evidenced by a still-growing number of shootdowns of U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones.       Israel’s far-right security minister to visit Yale day after Mar-a-Lago dinner (The Guardian) Israel’s far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was set to address a meeting at Yale University, a day after being honored at a lavish dinner at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.       US hits Iranian oil networks with sanctions amid Pentagon’s ongoing Houthi fight (Stars & Stripes) An Iranian gas mogul this week became the latest target of American sanctions against Tehran’s petroleum networks, which U.S. officials say generate vast revenue for funding attacks by Middle East militants.       New views of China's next generation fighters (The War Zone) Flight testing of China’s two new next-generation fighter designs is continuing apace and offering new insights into both aircraft. The latest imagery of the larger of the two designs, commonly — but unofficially — called the J-36, offers the clearest look to date at the exhausts for its three engines and a new angle into its possible two-seat cockpit.       Challenger 3 trials advance as UK builds eight tanks (UK Defence Journal) The UK’s Challenger 3 tank programme has reached a key production milestone, with four prototype tanks already delivered and another four in build, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.       What is The Resistance Front, the group claiming the deadly Kashmir attack? (Al Jazeera) Even as news of the deadliest attack on Indian-administered Kashmir’s tourists in decades filtered in on social media platforms and television screens, a message appeared on Telegram chats.       ‘Morally repugnant’: Brazilian workers sue coffee supplier to Starbucks over ‘slavery-like conditions’ (The Guardian) “John” was just days from turning 16 when he was allegedly recruited to work on a Brazilian coffee farm that supplies the global coffeehouse chain Starbucks.   Video     Watch US Air Force Academy cadets trade leather in the Wing Open boxing tournament (Military Times) Watch US Air Force Academy cadets trade leather in the Wing Open boxing tournament       VP Vance says he has '100 percent confidence' in Hegseth following new Signal accusation (Military Times) VP Vance says he has '100 percent confidence' in Hegseth following new Signal accusation       Listen to the sweet, sweet sounds of the A-10 Warthog (Military Times) Listen to the sweet, sweet sounds of the A-10 Warthog   Commentary & Analysis     To protect undersea cables in the Middle East, US needs a new hub (Breaking Defense) Undersea fiber-optic cables serve as not only the economic and communications backbone of much of the civilian world, but for military operations as well.       Europe is realigning—but can leaders keep citizens on board? (Defense One) Last month’s Signal chat scandal was the latest of several moves by the three-month-old Trump administration that have—at last—catalyzed European action toward strategic autonomy and defense capabilities. Now European leaders must keep their citizens on board.       The guardian’s rifle: Why mission-essential space support cannot be outsourced (SpaceNews) In matters of national defense and credible deterrence, some capabilities are simply too vital to outsource. If they falter, armies lose battles and nations can lose wars.       Defending the standing power throw: A pillar of the Army fitness test (Military Times) The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) represents a significant evolution in assessing the readiness of U.S. soldiers. Introduced after years of research, fielding and evaluation, this six-event test was designed to deliver a holistic assessment of a soldier’s physical fitness and their ability to meet the demands of combat. However, a recent change to this finely tuned test — the removal of the standing power throw — threatens to undermine its comprehensiveness and effectiveness.       Agentic warfare is here. Will America be the first mover? (War On The Rocks) The novelty of having large language models summarize documents and generate white papers is about to give way to AI agents that support deeper analysis and planning across joint warfighting functions.