Defense

Petraeus says no permanent bases planned in Afghanistan

The administration's $83.4 billion wartime supplemental spending request includes $867 million for military construction projects in Afghanistan.

Defense

Congress to tackle Defense procurement reform next week

Proposed legislation would establish regulations and oversight mechanisms to rein in ballooning acquisition costs.

Defense

Getting to the bottom of passport processing flaws proves thorny

Union and management don’t see eye to eye on the failures that led to four employees approving fraudulent applications.

Defense

Loyal F-22 booster undeterred by weakened campaign

Sen. Saxby Chambliss continues fighting for 60 additional planes even though the aircraft's manufacturer and other supporters have backed down.

Defense

Coast Guard modernization program still faces challenges

Official says that large cutters are in poor condition and will need repair.

Defense

Key Senate appropriator weighs two tanker suppliers

Proposal to split the lucrative Air Force contract still is on the table, despite Defense secretary's opposition.

Defense

Commander agrees with decision to delay new bomber

Holding off until the Pentagon finishes negotiating changes to the 1992 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty makes sense, officer says.

Defense

DHS chief says border crossing rules are on track

Napolitano is seeking to strike a balance between security and commerce.

Defense

Latest spy satellite plan has few details, many skeptics

Critics say the plan is risky and relies on unproven technologies.

Defense

Obama wins respect from the military

President looks to avoid the mistakes of Bill Clinton, the last Democratic, non-veteran commander-in-chief.

Defense

Senior official calls DDG-1000 destroyer deal good for taxpayers

Previous plan to split construction of three DDG-1000s between two shipyards would have been "horribly inefficient," Defense acquisition chief says.

Defense

Immigration adviser faces learning curve

Aide says she is spending a lot of time out in the field touring detention facilities and learning the strengths of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Defense

Air Force fast tracks hiring for acquisition jobs

Process that took as long as four months now takes less than three weeks.

Defense

Gates warns against big cuts in future spending

Defense chief says Pentagon needs annual budgets that allow the military to battle a range of threats.

Defense

Defense chief to tap Army modernization funds for new vehicle program

Gates will request "substantial money" for the program as part of the fiscal 2010 budget.

Defense

Congress returns to nominations, finance, water bill

Supplemental defense spending request and conference version of the fiscal 2010 budget resolution also are on the agenda.

Defense

Gates takes reform agenda to military officers

The Pentagon bureaucracy has marginalized the needs of troops and their families, Defense secretary tells future leaders.

Defense

State urged to step up passport fraud defenses

Department is moving in the right direction, but needs better training and preventative measures, auditors say.

Defense

Union challenges decision to outsource hundreds of jobs at West Point

AFGE and New York lawmakers claim the public-private competition was conducted unfairly.

Defense

DEA: Mexican drug violence is a sign of progress, not failure

Federal agencies are ramping up support for fighting drug cartels south of the border.