US Department of Defense officials alerted ICE personnel at the U.S. military base in Djibouti to the imminent danger of rocket attacks from terrorist groups in Yemen, reflecting a focus on ensuring safety amidst risky operational conditions.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer introduced a bill to block the use of Department of Defense funds for modifying an aircraft previously owned by a foreign government. The proposed measure targets Trump's plan for the US military to accept a donated Boeing airplane from Qatar for use as Air Force One, raising concerns about foreign influence and potential authoritarian implications in national security decision-making.

The US Department of Defense participated in a joint airstrike with UK forces against Houthi-controlled sites in Yemen on 2025-04-30. The operation comes amid reports of previous strikes on a detention center that allegedly resulted in significant civilian casualties, highlighting concerns over the authoritarian application of military power.

An article published on April 13, 2025, criticizes past misguided U.S. operations and the lack of clear strategy in information warfare attributed to the Department of Defense. The piece argues that these shortcomings have weakened U.S. global media influence and national security, enabling authoritarian adversaries to exploit these gaps.

On June 9, 2023, the US Department of Defense issued an interim rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement. The amendment replaces the previous forced labor 'certification' requirement with a forward-looking 'representation,' obliging contractors to exercise enhanced supply chain due diligence to ensure that forced labor from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region is not used in DoD contracts.

Effective June 9, 2023, the US Department of Defense issued an interim rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), shifting the requirement from an affirmative forced labor certification to a forward-looking representation. This mandates that contractors demonstrate they made a good faith effort to ensure that no products manufactured with forced labor from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region are procured, thereby reinforcing supply chain due diligence measures.

An investigative report reveals that in 2022, under the Biden administration, the US Department of Defense facilitated weapons sales to over half of the world’s autocratic regimes. This business-first approach bolsters authoritarian governments, contradicting public rhetoric about supporting global democracy.

An investigation reveals that numerous former Department of Defense officials have transitioned into lobbying roles for major defense contractors. This revolving door practice raises concerns about potential regulatory capture and the undermining of democratic accountability, as these individuals may influence defense policy and spending decisions in favor of private interests.