“Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has fired Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, the latest senior military or intelligence officer to lose his position in a wider purge of national security agencies’ top ranks,” the Washington Post reports.

“Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s unusually large personal security requirements are straining the Army agency tasked with protecting him as it pulls agents from criminal investigations to safeguard family residences in Minnesota, Tennessee and D.C.,” the Washington Post reports.

“The Trump administration moved Tuesday to revoke the security clearances of 37 current and former national security officials in the latest act of retribution targeting public servants in the federal government’s intelligence community,” the AP reports.

New York Times: “Rescinding security clearances appears to be part of a campaign by Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, to draw attention to what she sees as flaws in intelligence assessments about Russian malign influence operations during the 2016 election. Ms. Gabbard’s attention to that issue has won praise from Mr. Trump.”

“The chief of staff of the Air Force, Gen. David Allvin, will retire two years into a four-year term, officials said Monday, marking the latest early ouster of a senior military officer under President Donald Trump,” the Washington Post reports.

CNN: “A memo written by the Pentagon’s policy chief last month gives the Defense Department the option to divert certain weapons and equipment intended for Ukraine back into US stockpiles… a dramatic shift that could see billions of dollars previously earmarked for the war-torn country go toward replenishing dwindling American supplies.”

Wired: “A string of previously undisclosed break-ins at Tennessee National Guard armories last fall marks the latest in a growing series of security breaches at military facilities across the United States, raising fresh concerns about the vulnerability of US armories to theft and intrusion.”

“At least some of the break-ins seem to point to potential insider help.”

“President Trump has secretly signed a directive to the Pentagon to begin using military force against certain Latin American drug cartels that his administration has deemed terrorist organizations,” the New York Times reports.

“The decision to bring the American military into the fight is the most aggressive step so far in the administration’s escalating campaign against the cartels. It signals Mr. Trump’s continued willingness to use military forces to carry out what has primarily been considered a law enforcement responsibility to curb the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs.”

“The Trump administration pushed to unveil a highly classified document on Russia’s interference in the 2016 election after an intense behind-the-scenes struggle over secrecy, which ended in late July when Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released a minimally redacted version of the report,” the Washington Post reports.

“Gabbard, with the blessing of President Donald Trump, overrode arguments from the CIA and other intelligence agencies that more of the document should remain classified to obscure U.S. spy agencies’ sources and methods.”

Politico: “A sprawling missile defense conference kicks off Tuesday in Alabama, but no one on stage can mention the Pentagon’s most ambitious missile defense project.”

“Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s office, according to the event’s organizers, has banned officials at the event from talking about President Donald Trump’s favorite weapon system: the nascent multibillion-dollar Golden Dome missile shield.”

“The clampdown follows new Pentagon rules that ban personnel from participating in think tank and research organization events — a major channel for communicating policy and gathering outside input. And it occurs alongside a broader tightening of the department’s public engagement, including reducing press conferences and limiting media access in the building to prevent a stream of embarrassing leaks.”

“The U.S. Army is consolidating 75 contracts into a single arrangement with Palantir Technologies worth as much as $10 billion — a move the service said will accelerate deliveries and eliminate middleman fees,” Axios reports.

“Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s string of missteps has spurred infighting inside the Pentagon and raised concerns among some Republicans on Capitol Hill about his ability to run the department,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“The problems are rooted in Hegseth’s lack of managerial experience in overseeing an entity anywhere near as large as the Pentagon, which employs around 3.4 million people on a budget now approaching $1 trillion.”

“White House officials were frustrated by Hegseth’s refusal to part with his acting chief of staff despite their misgivings about the aide’s qualifications… Some blame poor Pentagon staffwork for leaving Trump in the dark about a pause in some weapons deliveries for Ukraine… Hegseth has feuded with top generals and fired three senior aides that were well-liked at the White House.”

“The Pentagon has scheduled its first major test of the multibillion-dollar Golden Dome missile defense system for just before the 2028 election, setting an aggressive deadline for military officials to prove they can turn President Donald Trump’s vision for a space-based shield that can protect the entire US into a reality,” CNN reports.

“Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has begun requiring that nominees for four-star-general positions meet with President Trump before their nominations are finalized, in a departure from past practice, said three current and former U.S. officials,” the New York Times reports.

“The move, though within Mr. Trump’s remit as commander in chief, has raised worries about the possible politicization of the military’s top ranks by a president who has regularly flouted norms intended to insulate the military from partisan disputes.”