Sources: USA Today
United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth orders the indefinite suspension of air defense and weapon shipments to Ukraine, including Patriot interceptors and other missiles and ammunition. 2025-07-2
United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth orders a halt to offensive cyber operations and information operations against Russia by U.S. Cyber Command. 2025-03-2
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin holds talks with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in the first meeting between the two since the start of the invasion. 2022-05-13
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says that the U.S. will ensure that all American citizens will be evacuated to the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. 2021-08-22
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin makes an unannounced trip to Afghanistan ahead of a May 1 deadline to withdraw troops from the country. 2021-03-21
The public interest non-profit Cause for Action files a Freedom of Information Act request for United States Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter’s personal emails following his disclosure of using that account for official government emails, this in the wake of the former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton email controversy and the Office of Personnel Management data breach. The U.S. Federal Records Act restricts use of personal email for official business. 2015-12-23
United States Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter indicates a more robust role ahead for the United States military in bolstering indigenous forces countering ISIS and in response to Russia’s increasing role in Middle East conflicts. 2015-10-26
The United States Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter warns that the People's Republic of China's island building in the South China Sea is undermining security in the Asia-Pacific region and has called for a diplomatic solution. 2015-05-30
The United States House of Representatives passes a resolution providing funding for the Government through to November 18, but the Senate vows to reject it, making a government shutdown from October 1 possible. 2011-09-23
Leon Panetta is sworn in as the new United States Secretary of Defense, succeeding Robert Gates. 2011-07-1