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VA Offers Conflicting Accounts of Claims System's 'Spontaneous' Shutdowns
IG says VBMS issues were reported as recently as August.
Pay & Benefits
Senior Executives Bash Pentagon’s Cuts to Bonuses
Decision will drive away top career officials at the Defense Department, SEA says.
Defense
Panetta Leaked Information to Hollywood Writer
Former CIA director says he didn’t know the writer was present during a speech with classified information.
Defense One
Karzai: There is ‘No Deadline’ to Sign Troop Deal
Afghan President Hamid Karzai says the Dec. 31 deadline to sign a post-2014 troop deal is just ‘pressure’ from the U.S. But visiting Gen. Martin Dempsey said negotiations are ‘closed.’ By Stephanie Gaskell
Defense
Budget Agreement Eases Pentagon's Sequester Pain
Deal gives the Defense Department about $31.5 billion in relief over two years.
Nextgov
Secret Service Plans Android Purchase Despite Other Agencies' Troubles
The Samsung smartphones will facilitate communication in the field during crises, documents say.
Management
Three Agencies Will Move Offices to One World Trade Center
Leases for Army Corps, GSA and Customs and Border Protection will help rebuild lower Manhattan.
Nextgov
Phone Apps Help Government, Others Counter Violence Against Women
The military is considering an app to help reduce sexual assault on bases.
Nextgov
Flying These Planes Cost $2 Million an Hour
Twenty turboprops for Afghanistan's Air Force cost $486 million, flew only 234 hours.
Pay & Benefits
Defense Combat Pay, Bonus Authority At Risk
Bipartisan plan would fast-track legislation to avoid interruption of special military compensation.
Defense
Republican Discord Leaves Defense Policy Bill in Limbo
It's unclear whether lawmakers will support plan to fast-track the bill.
Defense One
Hagel Softens on Troop Deal, Gives Karzai Until February - But Not April
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel now says Afghanistan has to sign a troop deal by February’s NATO meeting. It’s not the April elections that worries him; it’s the runoffs. By Stephanie Gaskell
Defense
Report: Russian Diplomats Who Scammed Medicaid Were Also Spying on the U.S.
It's unclear how many were spies.
Defense
Congress Won't Vote on How to End Military Sexual Assault
Senate runs out of time to vote on two competing amendments to Defense policy bill.
Nextgov
NSA Also Spies on Trolls, Orcs and Elves
The agency has infiltrated online games populated by mythical creatures.
Nextgov
Eight Tech Giants Urge Obama and Congress to Curb NSA
Open letter says electronic surveillance needs to be restricted by law.
Nextgov
America’s Outer-Space Spy Program Has a New Mascot: a World-Eating Octopus
James Clapper tweets.
Defense One
Spared from Hagel’s Cuts: Cyber, Asia-Pacific, Homeland Policy Jobs
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is cutting 200 jobs from his front office – but he made sure to protect several key policy positions in homeland, cyber and the Asia-Pacific. By Stephanie Gaskell
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