Senior Defense Reporter at the Washington Examiner.
Washington, DC
Joined February 2017
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The State Department approved a possible military sale of Patriot PAC-3 MSE missiles and related equipment to Ukraine for an estimated cost of $2.1 billion.
state.gov/releases/bureau-of…
Mike Brest retweeted
The WSJ lays out what keeping Gulf oil flowing actually involves:
-50,000 US troops, 20 Navy ships, two carriers across the region.
-$2–3 Billion USD/month or 67-100 Million USD/day above normal military spending
-Aircraft, warships and crews under mounting strain.
-Some US officials see the situation as untenable without more international help. Coalition efforts have failed.
wsj.com/politics/national-se…
Inbox: "The Department of War released the Military Intelligence Program (MIP) appropriated top line budget for fiscal year 2026. The total was $30.9 billion and is aligned to the National Defense Strategy,"
Unnamed Pentagon statement.
New: An Air Force spokesperson confirmed to the @dcexaminer there were two “non-hostile” deaths this month in the Middle East.
One of the deaths “remains under investigation,” and the other was “a non-hostile death as a result of an illness.”
washingtonexaminer.com/polic…
Mike Brest retweeted
NEW: The public Pentagon database tracking Iran war casualties recorded the death of a US Air Force member on Wednesday afternoon, raising the total US military death toll since Feb. 28 to 22.
The DCAS update specified that the death occurred under “non-hostile” circumstances.
Sean Parnell indicates that Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, the director for strategy, plans and policy on the Joint Staff J5, was fired after "an extensive Air Force OSI investigation."
"This matter, along with others, have been referred to the Justice Department...," he said.
The Department of War has zero tolerance for the intentional, unauthorized disclosure of classified information. Anyone who compromises sensitive national security information puts the lives of our Warriors at risk and undermines every military operation that keeps our country safe.
Following an extensive Air Force OSI investigation, the Department took necessary personnel action to protect sensitive information. To protect the integrity of the investigation, no further comment will be made regarding the individual or the circumstances of this action.
This matter, along with others, have been referred to the Justice Department for potential further legal action.
Classified information is not personal property. Leaking it for personal, political or professional gain is a betrayal of the trust placed in those responsible for keeping it.
Our commitment was not an empty promise. We vowed to find you, and we meant it.
Mike Brest retweeted
Speed. Scale. Lethality.
@washexaminer goes inside the @DeptofWar's $1 billion Drone Dominance Program with DIU Acting Director Travis Metz.
washingtonexaminer.com/polic…
I spoke with Acting @DIU_x Director Travis Metz to learn about how he's thinking about autonomous systems as it relates to a potential future conflict in Pacific against Beijing.
@dcexaminer
washingtonexaminer.com/polic…
Some takeaways:
- He thinks there will be 2-4 companies that will mass produce hundreds of thousands of the Group 1 drones
- Ukraine has produced 8 million (!) quadcopters this year (he doesn't think the US will need that many due to the geography of the Pacific vs Europe).
Ukraine's top diplomat in Washington says the military has confirmed Starlink and Starshield operational speeds have been restored.
Monitoring systems of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence have officially confirmed the restoration of Starlink/Starshield operational speeds, with connectivity remaining stable at speeds exceeding 400 kph.
We are grateful to everyone who helped restore the service and for your important contribution to saving Ukrainian lives.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence will continue monitoring performance, as reliable Starlink/Starshield connectivity plays a critical role in intercepting Russian drones and protecting Ukrainian lives.
Mike Brest retweeted
🚨Scoop: U.S. intelligence finds Iran has "substantially increased" its efforts to target American diplomats & officials in the Middle East and beyond, with lethal plots reaching "advanced stages," per memo to Secretary of State Rubio. My story on @axios
axios.com/2026/10/24/iran-wa…
"NORAD F-16 fighter aircraft intercepted a general aviation aircraft over Clemson, South Carolina, on Oct. 21, 2026, at approximately 5:39 p.m. EST.
The aircraft landed safely at a nearby airfield while being monitored by NORAD aircraft."
dvidshub.net/news/577578/nor…
Mike Brest retweeted
BREAKING: Detained American Stephen Hubbard is released by Russia after President Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff meets Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to reports in Russian state-run media. abcnews.link/4Ht4Kur
The cost of US war in Iran is believed to be north of $40 billion and that does not include the cost to repair damaged US bases overseas because the Pentagon says they do not yet know exactly how they will rebuild them and whether the host countries will contribute funding.
New: A Navy sailor was found dead on Sept. 14, during their deployment in the Middle East. The service has not shared their identity or what happened citing an ongoing Naval Criminal Investigative Service investigation.
@dcexaminer
washingtonexaminer.com/polic…
Wapo reported the sailor committed suicide.
Acting Navy Sec. Hung Cao told Sen. Gillibrand last month eight sailors aboard the Lincoln Carrier Strike Group alone tried to commit suicide during their 11-month deployment.
washingtonpost.com/national-…
