Defense

House-passed bill would ramp up IED office oversight

A separate but related provision in the bill would place more emphasis on irregular warfare by creating an assistant secretary of Defense post.

Defense

Defense seeks to reprogram funds to cover Army shortfalls

Without supplemental funding, Gates predicts furloughs and suspension of pay.

Defense

From Nextgov.com: Defense boosts bandwidth of global network to meet battlefield needs

Rising demand attributed mostly to satellite and video images from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Defense

Homeland Security avoids subpoena by turning over documents

Congressional aides said the department turned over more than 300 documents, including a list of career civil servants who will manage the presidential transition.

Defense

Virginia senator: McCain 'missing the boat' on veterans' benefits bill

Republican presidential hopeful argues that Democrat Jim Webb's amendment to increase education benefits would undermine the military's retention efforts.

Defense

Pentagon issues regulations applying federal labor relations rules to pay system

Changes to the National Security Personnel System are required under a law passed last year.

Defense

Senate gives FDA $265 million in Defense supplemental ’08 funding

Funds would expand agency’s inspections of foreign drug plants and food products, but faces Bush veto.

Defense

Committee accuses DHS of double-counting small business figures

House Homeland Security panel wants greater oversight of how agency disperses its contracting funds.

Defense

House chairman blasts VA move to set up panel on soldier suicides

Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., instead calls for “immediate action” to provide mental health evaluations for discharged service members.

Defense

ICE chief urges lawmakers to tour detention facilities

Julie Myers on Friday defended how her agency treats illegal immigrants being held in facilities across the country.

Defense

House-passed bill seeks better coordination between State and Defense

Amendment would establish a 12-member panel to review how the two departments, as well as the U.S. Agency for International Development, collaborate on overseas national security issues.

Defense

From Nextgov.com: Hill: Regulatory groups fail to protect power grid from cyberattacks

Federal regulatory commission says it needs more authority to force plants to tighten security for computer networks.

Defense

Coast Guard maritime casualty investigations hindered by poor management, IG finds

Service releases five-year plan to improve safety, but more resources are needed.

Defense

Senate OKs war supplemental bill with veterans' benefits

Package includes a provision that would essentially provide a four-year scholarship to any public university to veterans who have served since Sept. 11, 2001.

Defense

Panel praises Petraeus during nomination hearing

General said the number of violent incidents in Iraq last week was the lowest in four years.

Defense

Report: Defense Department cannot fully account for $7.8B spent in Iraq

Inspector general concludes funds were spent without appropriate documentation; office reconciling Iraqi payments has been moved from Kuwait to Rome, N.Y.

Defense

From Nextgov.com: Committee pulls purse strings to nudge services toward unified command-and-control systems

House Armed Services report also targets Future Combat Systems delays and IT staff shortage.

Defense

GAO: Post-government employment of Defense contracting officials could pose conflict of interest

The Pentagon is not required to monitor former officials when they begin jobs with defense contractors.

Defense

Advocates question ICE workplace raids' effect on kids

Immigration enforcement agency recently arrested hundreds of workers at an Iowa plant, 12 of whom were between the ages of 15 and 17.

Defense

Defense secretary: Navy, Air Force may need to subsidize Army soon

The Army's dwindling funds could affect service members' pay, training and family support activities.