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Lauren Toms

Lauren Toms is a national security reporter for The Washington Times, covering national security committees on Capitol Hill, foreign affairs, defense, and diplomacy. She began covering politics at CNN during the 2016 presidential election, working closely with the national security and justice teams, and later joined Axios as an editor specializing in international and military coverage.
Lauren holds a master's degree in U.S. law from Washington University in St. Louis school of law, and a bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communications from the George Washington University school of media and public affairs. She can be reached at ltoms@washingtontimes.com.

Articles by Lauren Toms

‘Important progress’ made in U.S.-Russia arms control talks, envoy says

The Trump administration's top arms control negotiator said Tuesday that "important progress" is being made in down-to-the-wire talks with Russia on a new nuclear arms control deal.

October 6, 2020

‘No military solution’ to ongoing Armenia-Azerbaijan dispute: State Department

The U.S. is joining global calls for a ceasefire as deadly clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh continue.

October 5, 2020

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO chief, calls for cease-fire in Armenian-Azerbaijani clashes

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is calling for a cease-fire between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces as clashes over the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh rage on.

October 5, 2020

Majority of Americans blame U.S. government for state of COVID-19 pandemic

A majority of Americans say the U.S. government is to blame for the severity of the coronavirus outbreak in the country than foreign governments, according to a new UChicago Harris/AP-NORC Poll.

October 5, 2020

‘No change’ to Pentagon alert levels despite Trump COVID-19 diagnosis

The Pentagon has not shifted its alert levels in the wake of the commander-in-chief announcing that he tested positive for COVID-19, Pentagon spokesperson Jonathan Hoffman said Friday.

October 2, 2020

Russia, Israel, France send wishes of support to Donald Trump, first lady after COVID-19 diagnoses

President Trump and first lady Melania Trump have received an outpouring of well-wishes from world leaders after they announced overnight that both had tested positive for COVID-19.

October 2, 2020

Defense budget fight brewing if Biden wins: HASC Chair Adam Smith

Democrats and Republicans are likely to face off in a contentious battle over the 2021 defense budget if Joseph R. Biden wins the presidency, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, Washington State Democrat, predicted.

October 2, 2020

Gen. Stanley McChrystal, former Afghanistan commander, endorses Joe Biden

Retired Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal endorsed Democrat Joseph R. Biden for president on Thursday and cited his work under the Obama administration in saying that the former vice president is "humble enough to listen to experts and who is humble enough to respect people who serve and have served."

October 1, 2020

Michele Flournoy: Deploying troops to polling stations ‘unhealthy’ for American democracy

Positioning troops at polling places on election day would hurt American democracy, said a former Pentagon official rumored to be a candidate for defense secretary under a Biden administration.

October 1, 2020

Risch, Menendez call for investigation into Navalny poisoning

The top Republican and Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee are calling for an investigation into the poisoning of Alexei Navalny, an outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

October 1, 2020

Russia, France and the U.S. call for an immediate cease-fire in Armenian-Azerbaijani clashes

Russia, France and the U.S. on Thursday issued calls for an immediate cease-fire between Armenia and Azerbaijan as clashes between the two rivals sparked recently over the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh killing dozens of people and threatening to drag nearby Turkey and Russia into a direct military confrontation.

October 1, 2020

Bipartisan confusion about Germany troop withdrawal grows on Capitol Hill

Bipartisan concerns of a U.S. troop withdrawal from Germany is growing among lawmakers as the Pentagon continues planning to relocate its U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and Africa Command (AFRICOM) headquarters to another European country, or potentially the U.S.

September 30, 2020

U.S., Taiwan team up for infrastructure projects in Indo-Pacific amid increased tension with China

The U.S. and Taiwan are moving forward with joint infrastructure projects in the Indo-Pacific region and Latin America, officials said Wednesday.

September 30, 2020

40 years of U.S.-China policy have ‘failed,’ GOP task force concludes

The past 40 years of formal, diplomatic engagement between the U.S. and China has failed as Beijing has emerged as a "generational threat," a new report authored by Congressional Republicans concludes.

September 30, 2020

Kremlin says Russia ‘is not going to intervene’ in U.S. election

Like many countries around the world, Russia is intensely following the U.S. presidential election between President Trump and his Democratic rival Joseph R. Biden, Kremlin spokesperson Dimitry Peskov said Wednesday following the first debate, but he insisted Moscow will not intervene.

September 30, 2020

UAE builds on Israel deal with military, diplomatic push

The United Arab Emirates is making a bid to become a defense powerhouse in the Middle East less than two months after striking a historic deal to normalize relations with Israel, bulking up its military as it seeks a seat on the U.N. Security Council.

September 29, 2020

WATCH: Ranked choice voting is coming to D.C. — here’s how it works

LISTEN: Robots and the U.S.-China competition Threat Status podcast

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

Lauren Toms

Articles by Lauren Toms

‘Important progress’ made in U.S.-Russia arms control talks, envoy says

‘No military solution’ to ongoing Armenia-Azerbaijan dispute: State Department

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO chief, calls for cease-fire in Armenian-Azerbaijani clashes

Majority of Americans blame U.S. government for state of COVID-19 pandemic

‘No change’ to Pentagon alert levels despite Trump COVID-19 diagnosis

Russia, Israel, France send wishes of support to Donald Trump, first lady after COVID-19 diagnoses

Defense budget fight brewing if Biden wins: HASC Chair Adam Smith

Gen. Stanley McChrystal, former Afghanistan commander, endorses Joe Biden

Michele Flournoy: Deploying troops to polling stations ‘unhealthy’ for American democracy

Risch, Menendez call for investigation into Navalny poisoning

Russia, France and the U.S. call for an immediate cease-fire in Armenian-Azerbaijani clashes

Bipartisan confusion about Germany troop withdrawal grows on Capitol Hill

U.S., Taiwan team up for infrastructure projects in Indo-Pacific amid increased tension with China

40 years of U.S.-China policy have ‘failed,’ GOP task force concludes

Kremlin says Russia ‘is not going to intervene’ in U.S. election

UAE builds on Israel deal with military, diplomatic push

WHO to roll out rapid COVID-19 testing system for lower- and middle-income countries

Majority of Taiwanese fear war with China: Poll

Coronavirus pandemic pushes annual G-20 summit to go virtual

Putin proposes that U.S., Russia sign pact to stop election meddling