Defense
Fight over tanker pact puts two nominations in limbo
Alabama senator is blocking the nominations of Erin Conaton as the Air Force's No. 2 civilian leader and Frank Kendall as Defense acquisition and technology chief.
Defense
Defense bill breathes new life into canceled programs
Legislation includes $130 million for the troubled VH-71 presidential helicopter program despite White House opposition.
Defense
From Nextgov.com: Obama administration proposes metrics for testing FISMA performance
Recommended measures “encourage agencies to take concrete steps to improve their security,” announcement states.
Defense
GAO upholds protests of Army truck pact
Watchdog says the service should re-evaluate three proposals for the five-year deal, whose price tag could reach $3 billion.
Defense
Aides: Short PATRIOT extension likely
Expectation is that expiring provisions will be reauthorized for three months, giving lawmakers time to work out their differences.
Defense
Appropriators give lifeline to helicopter program
Additional funding could keep the VH-71 alive and its workforce largely intact as the Pentagon reviews plans for fielding a new presidential helicopter.
Defense
Budget crunch could force fee hikes at immigration agency
Immigration reforms sought by administration could expand agency’s workload in 2010.
Defense
President requests review of policy on condolence letters
Families of service members who commit suicide are lobbying the White House to overturn a policy preventing the president from sending them condolence letters.
Defense
Expanding mission of State’s Diplomatic Security Bureau concerns lawmakers, GAO
With bigger role and more dangerous posts, security service struggles to balance reliance on contractors.
Defense
Commander says surge can be done quickly
Air Force Gen. Duncan McNabb says the military successfully moved almost the same number of personnel into the country this year.
Defense
Grant program adds three cities to highest-risk group
Boston, Philadelphia and Dallas will receive more funds under the state homeland security grant program.
Defense
Defense sexual assault programs need more resources, panel says
Department must standardize programs across the services and stabilize funding, according to task force.
Defense
Marines will be first to deploy to Afghanistan
Approximately 1,500 Marines from Camp Lejeune, N.C., will deploy in December.
Defense
Forward Observer: Back To Tit For Tat
Al-Qaeda and the Taliban will respond sooner or later to Obama's surge, much like the Vietcong did during the escalation of the Vietnam War.
Defense
Agencies join forces to stop arms trafficking to Mexico
ATF and ICE are putting aside their differences and pursuing a coordinated strategy to stem the flow of guns and drugs across the border.
Defense
Surge will include thousands of mine-resistant vehicles
Pentagon has already tapped Oshkosh Corp. to build 6,219 of the vehicles by April.
Defense
Lawmakers question plans for new Walter Reed
Under the 2005 BRAC, Defense is to build a world-class medical facility at Bethesda campus by 2011.
Defense
From Nextgov.com: White House cyber coordinator should have budget authority, former officials say
The current decentralized budget process hinders the administration’s ability to develop and implement a governmentwide cyber strategy .
Defense
Speaker dislikes surtax to pay for war
Pelosi also says House members will seek more details on Obama's Afghanistan plan so they can "make some judgment about the nature of the threat."
Defense