WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Defense paused on August 26 to honor the 13 U.S. service members and approximately 170 Afghan civilians killed in the 2021 suicide bombing at Abbey Gate outside Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. The commemoration came amid ongoing reviews of the attack and broader national security developments across multiple defense and homeland security initiatives.
Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell reflected on the service members’ sacrifice during the department’s Weekly Sitrep video update, calling them “selfless warriors who stood guard amidst chaos.” Parnell emphasized that their “valor and dedication to duty will forever inspire our nation.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that a special review panel examining the circumstances surrounding the Abbey Gate bombing is expected to present its findings by mid-2026. The announcement followed President Donald J. Trump’s signing of a proclamation marking the fourth anniversary of the attack, during a White House ceremony attended by Gold Star families.
“America deserves answers as far as what happened in Afghanistan; the military needs to answer for what happened in Afghanistan,” Hegseth said.
National Guard Deployment and Crime Reduction in Washington, D.C.
President Trump also signed an executive order directing the creation of a standing National Guard quick reaction force trained and resourced for rapid nationwide deployment.
In Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser reported significant declines in crime following the National Guard’s arrival and the shift of policing oversight to federal authorities. Carjackings have dropped 87%, while overall violent crime has fallen 45% compared to the same period last year.
“Thanks to President Trump, local law enforcement and the National Guard, law and order is back and here to stay,” Parnell said.
Coast Guard Achieves $2.2 Billion Narcotics Seizure
The U.S. Coast Guard, working under U.S. Southern Command’s Joint Interagency Task Force South, seized approximately $2.2 billion in illegal narcotics so far in 2025, according to Parnell.
In one of the agency’s largest operations, the Coast Guard cutter Hamilton offloaded more than 76,000 pounds of illicit drugs at Port Everglades, Florida. The haul included 61,740 pounds of cocaine and nearly 14,400 pounds of marijuana, stemming from 19 interdictions in the eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
Rear Adm. Adam Chamie, commander of the Coast Guard’s Southeast District, described the seizures as a “significant victory in the fight against transnational criminal organizations.” He noted that the quantity of cocaine seized alone would be enough to cause fatal overdoses across Florida’s entire population.
Air Force Advances Collaborative Combat Aircraft Program
The U.S. Air Force marked a milestone last week when its prototype YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) successfully completed a test flight in California.
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said the achievement highlighted the benefits of innovative acquisition strategies and close collaboration with industry. Parnell described the flight as a step forward in developing semiautonomous aircraft, designed to enhance operational flexibility and move the service closer to next-generation air dominance.
Potential Name Change for the Department of Defense
During the Weekly Sitrep, Parnell also addressed growing discussion about whether the Defense Department should revert to its original name, the Department of War.
President Trump floated the idea during a recent cabinet meeting, noting that the original title carried “a stronger sound” and symbolized a more proactive stance on national security.
The U.S. War Department, established in 1789 under President George Washington, retained its name for over 150 years before being briefly redesignated as the National Military Establishment in 1947 and finally becoming the Department of Defense in 1949.
Parnell said the debate reflects a broader reassessment of U.S. defense priorities. “George Washington started the Department of War because he wanted us to win our wars, not be engaged in endless foreign entanglements,” he noted, adding that decisions on a possible renaming are still under review.
“So, will we be called the ‘Department of War’? All I have to say is, the best is yet to come,” Parnell said.
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