Joe Gould
Joe Gould was the senior Pentagon reporter for Defense News, covering the intersection of national security policy, politics and the defense industry. He had previously served as Congress reporter.
All Stories By Joe
Republican budget plan will ‘undermine’ US security, warns Biden admin
The Biden administration is portraying plans from Republicans to gut the federal budget as jeopardizing national security.
McCain diagnosed with brain tumor
Sen. John McCain, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who fought in the Vietnam War and against tough political adversaries, is facing the fight of his life against cancer.
Ryan squashed war authorization repeal, congresswoman says
A proposal to end the 2001 authorization of the use of military force and any operations conducted under it was stripped from a House measure to fund the Pentagon in 2018.
Why has this Trump pick for the DoD been blocked for 11 weeks?
Senate Republican leaders are decrying Democratic obstruction of Pentagon nominees, but at least one is being blocked by Senate Armed Services Committee Chair John McCain himself.
US Senate confirms Shanahan, but Democrats still slowing Trump picks
The Senate on Tuesday confirmed the Pentagon’s new No. 2, Boeing executive Patrick Shanahan, 92-7, but Democrats say they will continue to delay Trump administration nominees.
Congress advancing DoD nominees while McCain heals
Congressional proceedings for Pentagon nominees this week will proceed as planned, despite the absence of Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain for medical reasons.
This week in Congress: Nominations abound
Defense and veterans hearings on Capitol Hill for the week of July 17.
US House passes sweeping 2018 defense policy bill, 344-81
The U.S. House passed a $696.5 billion defense policy bill on Friday, but it exceeds statutory budget caps, setting up a showdown.
House kills proposed ban on transgender surgery for troops, 209-214
The House voted down a Republican proposal to bar the Pentagon from paying for gender-transition surgeries.
Shanahan pole vaulting Senate health care quicksand to confirmation vote
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is advancing the nominee for the Pentagon’s No. 2 job, Patrick Shanahan, to a floor vote, likely next week.
