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Ben Wolfgang

Ben Wolfgang is a National Security Correspondent for The Washington Times. His reporting is regularly featured in the daily Threat Status newsletter.
Previously, he covered energy and the environment, Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign in 2016, and also spent two years as a White House correspondent during the Obama administration.
Before coming to The Times in 2011, Ben worked as political reporter at The Republican-Herald in Pottsville, Pa.
He can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.

Articles by Ben Wolfgang

Top administration official blasts reports of internal dissension over Syria policy

There is "no daylight" between top Trump administration officials on the president's decision to lift economic sanctions on Syria, a top State Department official told The Washington Times after reports of dissension at the highest levels of U.S. foreign policy decision-making.

May 22, 2025

Trump says ‘Golden Dome’ will be operational in 3 years, taps Space Force official to run it

President Trump has selected the architecture for his ambitious Golden Dome missile shield and said Gen. Michael A. Guetlein, Space Force vice chief of space operations, will oversee the effort to get it up and running.

May 20, 2025

Trump: Putin ready for ‘immediate’ Ukraine ceasefire talks

President Trump said Monday after a two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin that Moscow and Kyiv will immediately start ceasefire talks.

May 19, 2025

Ahead of Trump-Putin call, Russia launches massive drone attack on Ukraine

Russia launched early Sunday its largest drone attack on Ukraine since the start of the war between the two countries, Ukrainian officials said.

May 18, 2025

Two dead after Mexican navy ship on ‘global goodwill’ tour crashes into Brooklyn Bridge

Two crew members died and nearly two dozen others were injured when a Mexican navy ship crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge late Saturday.

May 18, 2025

Senate ‘Golden Dome’ caucus announced at Threat Status event; strong support for missile shield czar

A key senator announced Tuesday the formation of a Senate caucus to help advance President Trump's Golden Dome missile shield proposal. Former high-level military officials and defense analysts strongly endorsed the idea of a single commander, widely expected to be Gen. Michael A. Guetlein, vice chief of space operations, to oversee the ambitious undertaking.

May 13, 2025

Trump weighs appointment of ‘Golden Dome’ czar as missile defense push gains momentum

President Trump is considering the appointment of a high-level Golden Dome czar, said several sources familiar with the deliberations, as momentum grows and stakeholders line up behind the administration's push for a next-generation missile defense shield to protect the entire continental United States.

May 11, 2025

Special Forces key to U.S. victory in ‘high-end conflict,’ top Pentagon official says

The special operations forces of the 21st century must be tailored to help the U.S. "prevail in a high-end conflict" and designed to thrive in environments that could define an American clash with a powerful adversary such as China, a top Pentagon official said Thursday.

May 8, 2025

Hegseth: Special Forces amplify message that ‘America is back’

Elite special operations forces are a core component of the nation's ability to project power abroad and protect itself at home, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a fiery speech Tuesday as he decried the "wokeness and weakness" that he said is being eliminated from the military under President Trump.

May 6, 2025

In era of great power competition, U.S. Special Operations Forces to play key role

U.S. special operations forces are positioned to do more than the high-risk, high-profile counterterrorism missions of the post-9/11 era.

May 3, 2025

F/A-18 overboard: Navy crew loses control of fighter during tow, aircraft plunges into Red Sea

A Navy fighter jet was lost in the Red Sea on Monday after going overboard during an apparent mishap aboard the USS Harry S. Truman, Navy officials said.

April 28, 2025

U.S. has struck more than 800 Houthi targets in Yemen in the past six weeks, Pentagon says

The Pentagon said the U.S. has struck more than 800 Houthi rebel targets over the past six weeks, even as questions swirled Monday about the effectiveness of the Trump administration's military campaign in Yemen.

April 28, 2025

‘Alarm bells should be going off’: Will the U.S. allow Iran to keep its nuclear program?

"Expert-level" technical talks on a new U.S.-Iran nuclear deal could signal that the Trump administration is willing to move away from its position that Tehran must give up all uranium enrichment capabilities and could allow Tehran to keep its nuclear program operating in some form, some specialists warn.

April 23, 2025

Ukraine, Russia accuse each other of breaking Easter ceasefire

Ukraine and Russia each accused the other Sunday of breaking a truce, with dozens of reported attacks across Ukraine amid dwindling hopes that the nations can ever agree to a lasting ceasefire.

April 20, 2025

‘Unconscionable’: Former top aides to Defense Secretary Hegseth blast Pentagon leaks investigation

Three former key Defense Department advisers said they have had their character "slandered" amid an ongoing internal Pentagon investigation into leaks of sensitive information.

April 20, 2025

U.S., Iran say ‘progress’ made in nuclear talks

U.S. and Iranian officials said they made progress Saturday in the second round of talks between the countries, which are aiming to secure a deal to limit Tehran's nuclear program.

April 19, 2025

U.S., Iran at odds ahead of nuclear talks: Tehran says uranium enrichment is ‘non-negotiable’

There are clear divisions between the U.S. and Iran ahead of high-stakes nuclear negotiations this weekend.

April 16, 2025

Top U.S., Iranian officials meet face-to-face; talks to continue next week

Top U.S. and Iranian officials opened a new round of talks Saturday aimed at striking a deal to limit Tehran's nuclear program.

April 12, 2025

What’s on and what’s off the table in U.S. nuclear talks with Iran?

The Trump administration will enter direct nuclear negotiations with Iran this weekend with a seemingly endless list of high-stakes questions in play: For starters, will the U.S. push for the full dismantlement of Iran's plutonium production and uranium enrichment programs, or accept something short of that?

April 9, 2025

Iranian president demands ‘equal footing’ with U.S. in any negotiations

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said over the weekend that his country is open to dialogue with the U.S. but only if the two nations are on an "equal footing."

April 6, 2025

WATCH: The Sitdown With Alex Swoyer Monica Crowley on a year of historic diplomacy

LISTEN: Inside the Navy’s push for tech dominance Threat Status podcast

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