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LOLITA C. BALDOR

National security reporter

Baldor has covered the Pentagon and national security issues for The Associated Press since 2005. She has reported from all over the world including warzones in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria.
The U.S. Navy launches the USNS Harvey Milk, a fleet replenishment oiler ship named after the first openly gay elected official, in San Diego, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo, File)
USNS Harvey Milk is renamed after a WWII sailor in the latest Pentagon diversity purge
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced the USNS Harvey Milk will be renamed after a World War II sailor who received the Medal of Honor.
 
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a news conference at the Pentagon, Thursday, June 26, 2025 in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Pentagon leaders cite military tactics to show destruction from US attacks on Iran
Pentagon leaders have laid out new details about military tactics and explosives to bolster their argument that U.S. attacks had destroyed key Iranian nuclear facilities.
 
This photograph released by the U.S. Navy shows a MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter hovering over the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier while operating in the Middle East April 12, 2025. (Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan Jordan/U.S. Navy via AP, File)
How the US has shifted military jets and ships in the Middle East
The U.S. is shifting military aircraft and warships into and around the Middle East to protect Israel from Iranian attacks.
 
President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, and other guests stand for the National Anthem, during a military parade commemorating the Army's 250th anniversary, coinciding with his 79th birthday, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Military parade kicks off in nation’s capital with tanks, troops and 21-gun salute
The grand military parade that President Donald Trump wanted for eight years has barreled down Constitution Avenue in Washington with tanks, troops and a 21-gun salute.
 
The future USS Thomas Hudner, a U.S. Navy destroyer named after Korean War veteran Thomas Hudner, during christening ceremony at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, April 1, 2017. The ship was commissioned, Dec. 1, 2018 in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm, File)
US helps Israel shoot down barrage of Iranian missiles
American air defense systems and a Navy destroyer have helped Israel shoot down incoming ballistic missiles from Iran. That’s according to U.S. officials.
 
U.S Marines work outside of a federal building, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Los Angeles (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Marines take over some security in LA while cities across US prep for ‘No Kings’ rallies
After a week of protests over federal immigration raids, about 200 Marines have moved into Los Angeles to guard a federal building and personnel in the city.
 
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth fields questions on the Pentagon budget from the House Armed Services Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Hegseth says the Pentagon has contingency plans to invade Greenland if necessary
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is appearing to acknowledge that the Pentagon has developed plans to take over Greenland and Panama by force if necessary.
 
Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman, head of Task Force 51, which is overseeing the deployment of National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles, speaks to reporters Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, Calif. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)
About 500 National Guard troops in LA are trained to accompany agents on immigration raids
About 500 of the National Guard troops deployed to the Los Angeles protests have been trained to accompany agents on immigration operations, the commander in charge said Wednesday.
 
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testifies during a Senate Committee on Appropriations subcommittee hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2026 for the Department of Defense, on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)
Hegseth defends use of troops to protect immigration raids in Los Angeles
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is defending his decision to order National Guard troops to provide security during immigrations raids in Los Angeles.
 
U.S Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks at Fort Bragg, N.C., Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Army restores the names of seven bases that lost their Confederate-linked names under Biden
Seven Army bases whose names were changed in 2023 because they honored Confederate leaders are all reverting back to their original names.
 
Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during an address on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Office of California Governor via AP)
Los Angeles leaders impose curfew as protests against Trump’s immigration crackdown continue
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said President Donald Trump is “pulling a military dragnet” across Los Angeles during a brief public address on Tuesday.
 
Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testifies before the House Committee on Appropriations subcommittee oversight hearing on the Department of Defense, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Hegseth faces sharp questions from Congress on deploying troops to LA and Pentagon spending
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been met with sharp questions and criticism by lawmakers who demanded details on his moves to deploy troops to Los Angeles.
 
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth salutes during a ceremony at the US cemetery to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the D-Day landings, Friday, June 6, 2025 in Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)
Pentagon draws up rules on possible use of force by Marines deployed to LA protests
The Pentagon is scrambling to establish rules to guide U.S. Marines who could be faced with the rare and difficult prospect of using force against citizens on American soil, now that the Trump administration is deploying active duty troops to the immigration raid protests in Los Angeles.
 
Protesters clasp hands in front of a line of California National Guard, Monday, June 9, 2025, at a Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles. (AP Photo Jae Hong)
Trump authorizes additional 2,000 National Guard members to Los Angeles, US officials say
President Donald Trump has authorized the deployment of an additional 2,000 National Guard members to help respond to protests in Los Angeles over immigration raids.
 
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth salutes during a ceremony at the US cemetery to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the D-Day landings, Friday, June 6, 2025 in Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)
Transgender troops face a deadline and a difficult decision: Stay or go?
As transgender service members face a deadline to leave the U.S. military, hundreds are taking the financial bonus to depart voluntarily.
 
The then Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the head of U.S. Air Force Central, speaks at a news conference at the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sept. 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell, File)
Trump taps senior Air Force commander for European Command
President Donald Trump is tapping an Air Force fighter pilot with extensive experience as a commander in the Middle East to be the next head of U.S. European Command.
 
Tanks and other military vehicles are transported via railroad to Washington, D.C. for an upcoming parade for the Army's 250th anniversary, Monday, June 2, 2025, at Fort Cavazos near Killeen, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Army leaders defend parade and border spending as Congress presses for answers
Army leaders are defending spending as much as $45 million to add a parade to the service’s 250th birthday celebration on June 14, saying it will help boost recruitment.
 
U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, speaks at an event at the International Defense Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell, File)
Trump names nominees to take over commands in the Middle East and Africa
President Donald Trump is nominating Vice Adm. Brad Cooper to take over as the top U.S. military commander in the Middle East.
 
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth meets with Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz at the Pentagon, Tuesday, May 27, 2025 in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Hegseth will skip a meeting on organizing military aid to Ukraine in a first for the US
America’s Pentagon chief will not be in attendance when more than 50 other defense leaders meet this week to coordinate military aid to Ukraine.
 
In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, the John Lewis-class replenishment oiler USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO-206) conducts a replenishment at sea in the Atlantic Ocean, Dec. 13, 2024. (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Maxwell Orlosky/U.S. Navy via AP))
Hegseth orders the name of gay rights activist Harvey Milk scrubbed from Navy ship
U.S. officials say Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the Navy to rename the USNS Harvey Milk in a highly rare move.
 
U.S. Army soldiers cross a floating bridge on the Imjin River during a joint river-crossing exercise between South Korea and the United States as a part of the Freedom Shield military exercise in Yeoncheon, South Korea, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)
The US military spent $6 billion in the past 3 years to recruit and retain troops
The U.S. military spent more than $6 billion over the past three years to recruit and retain service members, in what’s been a growing campaign to counter enlistment shortfalls.
 
A sign at entrance to the U.S. Naval Academy campus in Annapolis, Md., Jan. 9,2014. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
Most books pulled from Naval Academy library are back on the shelves in latest DEI turn
All but a few of the nearly 400 books that the U.S. Naval Academy removed from its library because they dealt with anti-racism and gender issues are back on the shelves.
 
A 13-year-old private Boeing aircraft that President Donald Trump toured on Saturday to check out new hardware and technology features, and highlight the aircraft maker's delay in delivering updated versions of the Air Force One presidential aircraft, takes off from Palm Beach International Airport, Feb. 16, 2025, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)
Defense Department accepts Boeing 747 from Qatar for Trump’s use
The Pentagon says Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has accepted a gifted Boeing 747 from Qatar for President Donald Trump to use as Air Force One.
 
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during an event with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Hegseth orders new review of Afghanistan withdrawal and suicide bombing at Kabul airport
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered another review of the U.S. military’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, and of the suicide bombing at the Kabul airport that killed American troops and Afghans.
 
The Pentagon is seen in this aerial view in Washington, Jan. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)
Racist memes shared by Navy SEALs prompt investigation, disciplinary actions
A defense official says that two Navy SEALs based in Virginia are facing disciplinary action for racist conduct, and several of their platoon and team leaders are being disciplined for leadership failures.
 
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks at the Al Udeid Air Base, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Doha, Qatar. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Military commanders will be told to send transgender troops to medical checks to oust them
Defense officials say military commanders will be told to identify troops in their units who are transgender or have gender dysphoria, then send them to medical checks in order to force them out of the service.
 
Senate confirms Troy Meink, former air crewman and space expert, as the new Air Force secretary
The Senate has easily confirmed Troy Meink as the secretary of the Air Force, putting a former tanker aircraft navigator and space expert in charge of the service.
 
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth attends a welcome ceremony for President Donald Trump hosted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Royal Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Hegseth’s plan to cut senior military jobs could hit more than 120 high-ranking officers
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s plans to slash the number of senior military leaders across the services would cut more than 120 high-ranking officer jobs in the active duty and National Guard, including as many as nine top general slots.
 
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrives before President Donald Trump speaks on his first 100 days at Macomb County Community College Sports Expo Center, Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Warren, Mich. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
How the military is dealing with Hegseth’s order to remove transgender troops
The military services are scrambling to nail down details and put together new guidance to start removing transgender troops from the force.
 
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth listens during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Pentagon directs military to pull library books that address diversity, anti-racism, gender issues
The Pentagon has ordered all military leaders and commands to pull and review all of their library books that address diversity, anti-racism or gender issues by May 21.
 
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