July 6, 2021 Sexual assaults will no longer be prosecuted by commanders Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III accepted all of the recommendations of an independent review commission that proposed an array of changes in how the Department of Defense and the services that fall under it will handle sexual assaults.
May 28, 2021 DOD budget request boosts research, nuclear modernization, includes 2.7% pay raise The fiscal year 2022 Defense Department budget request includes the largest-ever research, development, test and evaluation request — $112 billion, which is a 5.1% increase over fiscal 2021.
Feb. 22, 2021 Commission Soon to Begin Examining Problem of Sexual Assault in Military A commission to examine the problem of sexual assault in the military should begin work soon, and will have 90 days to compile its recommendations.
Feb. 8, 2021 DOD Leaders Will Address Extremism in the Ranks Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III directed commanding officers and supervisors at all levels to conduct a one-day stand-down with their personnel within the next 60 days to discuss the problem of extremism in the ranks.
Feb. 4, 2021 Secretary of Defense orders military stand down to address challenge of extremism in the ranks A Department of Defense-wide stand down will occur over the next 60 days so that each service, command and unit can take the time to have needed discussions about extremism in the ranks, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said Feb. 3.
April 9, 2020 Top DOD Officials Discuss COVID-19 in Virtual Town Hall Meeting Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper; Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman Ramón "CZ" Colón-López answered questions about COVID-19 during a virtual global town hall at the Pentagon.
March 25, 2020 Defense Secretary lists DOD's top priorities during COVID-19 pandemic Protecting the Defense Department's people, maintaining military readiness and supporting the whole-of-government interagency response are DOD's top three priorities amid the coronavirus pandemic, Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper said March 24.
March 12, 2020 DOD halts travel to, from COVID-19 affected countries In response to the growing coronavirus epidemic, Department of Defense officials are looking to safeguard the health and safety of military and civilian personnel and their families.