Defense
Forward Observer: Rational Defense
The country is spending more than $1 trillion a year on national defense despite fighting only two little wars against enemies with no ships, warplanes or tanks.
Defense
Defense shapes savvier shoppers
Acquisition university faces the challenge of training thousands of new procurement professionals.
Defense
Lawmakers ask FBI director to end abuses over records
House members want binding guidance barring improper use of exigent letters to obtain phone records.
Defense
Air Force seeks middle ground on disputed cargo plane moves
Under compromise proposal, Guard and Reserve units would loan the C-130 planes to active duty units, rather than hand them over permanently.
Defense
From Nextgov.com: McCain suggests using military tech on Mexico border
The Arizona senator describes drug cartels’ operations in the area as irregular warfare and says the rising violence justifies a military response , including the use of technology such as unmanned aerial vehicles.
Defense
Former NSA executive accused of leaking classified information
Indictment claims the official shared classified documents with a newspaper reporter and then tried to cover his tracks during an investigation.
Defense
Agencies seek to standardize pay and benefits for civilians overseas
Proposal would ensure employees abroad received at minimum the level of locality pay in Washington.
Defense
Lawmakers propose acquisition overhaul at Defense
Procurement and financial management personnel would see new rewards and consequences for performance.
Defense
Lawmakers question management, progress at blast injury treatment centers
Pentagon has lagged behind in creating medical centers of excellence; goals remain largely unmet.
Defense
Growing chorus calls for federalizing building security
Watchdog agency finds contract guards allowed fake guns, knives and explosives into government facilities.
Defense
Rights groups oppose proposed biometric Social Security cards
Employers would be able to swipe the card through a machine to confirm someone's identity and immigration status.
Defense
Senators see gaps in Coast Guard's budget plan
The service would be the only military branch to experience a personnel decrease in Obama's budget request.
Defense
From Nextgov.com: Senate set to consider NSA chief as head of Cyber Command
Lawmakers have held up Army Lt. Gen. Keith Alexander’s nomination because of concerns about the militarization of cyberspace, the command’s relationship with the National Security Agency and the use of the Internet.
Defense
Firefighters could lose jobs because of age
Dozens of Defense contract firefighters would be ineligible for their jobs under insourcing plan.
Defense
Job tenure taken out of the equation in NSPS transition
Pentagon secures a waiver from time-in-grade rules for certain employees moving back to the General Schedule.
Defense
House lawmakers protest transfer of Guard's C-130s
Letter demands the short- and long-term goals the Air Force hopes to achieve by taking the aircraft from reserve units.
Defense
Panel to review border security initiative
Violent spillovers related to illicit drug activity along the Mexican border prompt key lawmakers to hold a hearing on the situation.
Defense
From Nextgov.com: Army impressed by initial test of next generation radios
A central part of a plan to modernize brigades, radios will link units so they can transmit broadband data , including imagery.
Defense