China claims Death Star like directed energy weapon

Defense and dual-use technologies

Good morning!

The incoming administration has wasted no time in shaking up D.C. and the DoD. Expect to see the Senate hold its confirmation vote on whether Pete Hegseth will be the 29th Secretary of Defense. Building our Future predicts that Hegseth will be confirmed by a very narrow margin: 51-49 with Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Susan Collins (R-ME) joining Democrats in their opposition of Hegseth’s confirmation. Hegseth’s nomination was nearly withdrawn a month ago over numerous allegations of domestic abuse and alcoholism, calling into question Hegseth’s character and competence to serve as the highest levels of national service.

Until the Senate confirms a SECDEF, Robert Salesses will serve as the Acting Secretary. Salesses has served as the deputy director of the Washington Headquarters Services, which oversees administrative and managerial support to numerous DoD entities across the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia areas.

Similarly, quite a few other Pentagon p…