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Policy Blog
- Low Earth Orbit Is A High-Value Domain (From RealClearDefense)
Low Earth Orbit – known as LEO – is the future for communications satellites. It’s also a high-value domain for national security. And it’s getting crowded. Elon Musk’s Starlink has over 5500 satellites on orbit and just launched 23 more Friday morning. Amazon is putting $10 billion into its LEO constellation named Kuiper that will build out to 3,236 satellites. To get [ Read More…]
- LexNext Innovation Examiner
- Lina Khan’s “National Champions” Canard
We are pleased to announce the launch of our newsletter, LexNext Innovation Examiner which analyzes issues in the tech and national security nexus. The first edition, which reviews a major speech by Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan to the Carnegie Endowment can be found in the PDF here. The text is also below. Lina Khan’s “National Champions” Canard Federal [ Read More…]
- Rebecca L. Grant, Ph.D.
- USN: Carrier-Based Military Diplomacy Works (From CBS Eye On The World With John Batchelor)
Lexington Vice President Rebecca Grant discusses the Ford-class carriers with John Batchelor. Carrier deterrence is more important than ever as shown by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s deployment of two carriers to the Mideast in the Gaza crisis. China is building its Fujian-class for local air superiority around the South China Seas. US carriers are still survivable against Chinese missiles; speed and tactics [ Read More…]
- Army Budget Invests In Lessons From Ukraine With Focus On Deterring China (From Defense Opinion)
As Ukraine’s valiant fight against Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion enters its third year, the U.S. Army’s newly released fiscal 2025 budget incorporates the top lessons from combat in Ukraine and sends a powerful message as a deterrent against possible conflict with China. Here are four key insights about the budget starting with munitions, air defense and armored vehicles and culminating with the rising dominance of deep sensing, which is the collection of data to support targeting, situational awareness and decision-making.
- Against All Odds, Army Making Solid Progress On Modernization (From RealClearDefense)
Today the United States and the U.S. Army are once again positioning for a two-front war, as we did in the Spanish American war, World War Two, and during the Cold War. The U.S. is the chief outside architect of the assistance to Ukraine as it battles Russia. Meanwhile, we and our friends in Asia prepare for what many believe will be an inevitable clash of arms with China. While some think the U.S. Army should not become a big [ Read More…]
- Navy Makes Shocking Aircraft Carrier Decision While China Threat Rises (From Fox News)
What a shock. According to the newly released budget, the Pentagon wants to slow down America’s aircraft carriers. Delaying aircraft carriers courts disaster at a time when their deterrence value is higher than ever. The Navy has a budget plan for new aircraft carriers that can launch drones, carry lasers and face down China, but President Biden’s budget took out so much money that the whole aircraft carrier plan may fall apart. I have written more on this subject here.
- Can We Accelerate Foreign Military Sales? Arm Our Allies Faster? (From Warrior Maven)
In 2023, sales of American-made military equipment to US allies and partners significantly increased – to $80.9 billion – through the highly successful Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process, a 55.9% increase compared to the $51.9 billion of 2022. This dramatic upswing is the result of continued threats emanating from Russia and China, as well as the war in Ukraine. But not all foreign military sales move so quickly. Most “friends and family” arms deals forged during White House meetings with foreign leaders [ Read More…]
- Bureaucratic Screw-Ups Stall New FTC Commissioners
The full text is below and can be found in the PDF here. Bureaucratic Screw-Ups Stall New FTC Commissioners By Paul Steidler When the President and the US Senate want something from the bureaucracy, it usually happens immediately, but not in the case of getting new commissioners to serve on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The delays in the swearing-in of Melissa Holyoak and Andrew Ferguson to be on the FTC more than two weeks after the US Senate confirmed [ Read More…]
- U.S. High-Tech Companies On The Front Lines In New Cold War With China (From Defense Opinion)
A new Cold War is upon us. Unlike the prior one between the democratic West and the Soviet Union, this time the U.S. and its allies do not have the advantage of superior technology with which to counter its adversary’s advantages. China is investing heavily in an array of advanced technologies in an attempt to be the dominant power of the 21st century. In order to prevail in this new Cold War, the U.S. must ensure that its high-tech companies [ Read More…]
- Federal Trade Commission Should Revise Budget Priorities (Public Meeting Comments)
At today’s open meeting of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), whose attendees included Chair Lina Khan, Lexington Institute’s Paul Steidler called on the FTC to “eliminate unnecessary expenses and scrutinize better how the American people’s money is being spent.” His remarks are below and in the PDF here. To view a video of the remarks, click here. Chair Khan and members of the Federal Trade Commission, thank you for this opportunity. With the FTC last week requesting a 24 percent [ Read More…]
- Our Economic And National Security Depend On Microelectronics No Longer Made In America
In 2017, the Economist declared: “The world’s most valuable resource is no longer oil, but data.” The backbone of this digital economy is microelectronics. From simple switches to sensitive national security systems, today’s world runs on microelectronics. National security systems and every industry vertical making up our critical infrastructure depend on a technology stack comprised of semiconductors, integrated circuit substrates, and printed circuit boards (PCBs). Most of these components were invented and designed here in America but manufacturing was sent [ Read More…]
- A Discussion With Ashley Baker On The FTC’s New Commissioners
The video can be viewed here. The full text is below and can be found in the PDF here. A Discussion with Ashley Baker on the FTC’s New Commissioners Paul Steidler: Good afternoon. I’m Paul Steidler with the Lexington Institute, and I’m joined by Ashley Baker, director of Public Policy at the Committee for Justice. We’re going to briefly talk about one of Washington’s most disruptive and impactful federal agencies in recent years the Federal Trade Commission, which is about [ Read More…]
- The FTC’s FY 2025 Budget Request: Five Things To Know
The full text is below and can be found in the PDF here. The FTC’s FY 2025 Budget Request: Five Things to Know By Paul Steidler This past Monday the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued its Fiscal Year 2025 Congressional Budget Justification, asking for a steep funding increase of 24 percent to $535 million. It is an audacious ask for an agency that has been pushing some of the Biden Administration’s most controversial economic policies, and which has had widespread [ Read More…]