April 7, 2025: 11:00 p.m.:
April 7, 2025: Defense Highlights

• President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced plans for a $1 trillion defense budget, aiming to bolster military readiness and lethality.

• The Pentagon is considering a proposal to reduce U.S. military presence in Eastern Europe by up to 10,000 troops, potentially impacting NATO operations and regional security dynamics.

• The Department of Defense is offering a Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) and Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA) to eligible civilian employees from April 7 through April 14, 2025, as part of efforts to streamline the workforce.

• The U.S. Navy provided new details about its sixth-generation F/A-XX fighter jet, emphasizing increased range as a core attribute to enhance operational flexibility.

• Vice Adm. Shoshana Chatfield, the U.S. representative to NATO’s Military Committee and former president of the U.S. Naval War College, was relieved of her duties over the weekend.