Sources: USA Today
U.S. defense secretary Lloyd Austin says that American troops will evacuate as many Americans and allied Afghan interpreters as they can, but also admits that the Pentagon lacks the capacity to do so. Austin also announces that around 5,000 people have already been evacuated. 2021-08-18
Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby announces that U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has approved a new command to oversee troops who will remain in the country to protect diplomats at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. The mission will be led by RDML Peter Vasely. 2021-07-2
During a visit to Baghdad, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter announces that the United States will be sending more troops to the country to help in the fight against ISIL. The U.S. also plans to give Kurdish Peshmerga forces, which are fighting ISIL on the ground, more than $400m (£280m; €350m) in assistance. 2016-04-18
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
Florida Senator Marco Rubio announces his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential election. 2015-04-13
The United States plans to set up a missile defence system in Guam. U.S. Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel describes North Korea as a "real and clear danger". 2013-04-3
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
Hawaii Democratic Party Senator Daniel Akaka announces that he will not be standing for reelection in the United States Senate election in Hawaii. 2011-03-2