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.
As Pentagon vacancies peak, time runs out to fill jobs
Of 60 Senate-confirmable positions at the Pentagon, more than one third are unfilled, and time is running out for the Trump administration on the Senate’s abbreviated, election-year calendar.
Navy secretary pick Braithwaite gets official nod from Trump
President Donald Trump has officially announced his intent to nominate Kenneth “K.J.” Braithwaite as the Navy's top civilian.
Democrats press Pompeo over Trump’s ‘failure’ of an Iran policy
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo got an earful on the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran
Expect Congress to block Africa troop cuts, says defense panel chairman
The upcoming 2021 defense policy bill will likely restrict the Pentagon from reducing its footprint in Africa, says the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.
Esper won’t give up 5G spectrum to telecom firms, but he will share it
US Defense Secretary Mark Esper is pushing back against telecom companies’ efforts to claim mid-band spectrum in their race with China to build 5G networks.
TRANSCOM head pushes back against Air Force tanker retirements
The head of U.S. Transportation Command is pushing the Air Force to rethink some of its controversial plans to retire some of its older aerial refueling aircraft.
GOP lawmakers fret over Afghanistan drawdown plans
With talk of a U.S. troop drawdown in Afghanistan on the horizon, some Republican lawmakers are cautioning the Trump administration against pulling out too many troops, too quickly.
After Trump impeachment, US lawmakers stress unity on Ukraine military aid
Instead of being the “chessboard” where other countries compete, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wants his country to be a player in its own right.
Esper to allies: Picking Huawei risks intel and security ties with the US
The top Pentagon official has called out Beijing as America’s main adversary.
