Defense
Homeland Security Department provides $844 million in critical infrastructure protection grants
Grant funding for port, transit security increased by 29 percent in this fiscal year.
Defense
From Nextgov.com: Cost of cybersecurity initiative is triple its first estimate, panel reports
The development of the National Cybersecurity Initiative also is too secretive, removing a deterrence to attack U.S. networks, Senate committee charges.
Defense
FAA urged to open domestic skies to unmanned aerial vehicles
A new report from the Government Accountability Office urges Congress to create an office inside FAA to coordinate federal UAV planning.
Defense
Pentagon policy bill touts readiness, but defers tough weapons decisions
House Armed Services Committee did not aggressively reorder the Pentagon's budget priorities, nor did it scale back major defense procurement programs.
Oversight
From Nextgov.com: Cyber criminals overseas steal U.S electronic health records
Identity theft crime wave could imperil patient safety and cost Medicare millions of dollars .
Defense
Key Dems seek to withhold funding for DHS satellite office
Lawmakers remain "extremely concerned" about agency plan to open office that would coordinate how federal, state and local officials access satellite technology.
Defense
White House threatening to veto war supplemental bill
Amendments include a non-binding requirement for troop withdrawal from Iraq and an increase in veterans' education benefits.
Defense
Intelligence community to launch pay for performance system
Employees in 10 of the 16 intelligence agencies will be evaluated and compensated based on their job performance during the next year.
Defense
Legislative amendment would suspend competitive sourcing at Defense
Provision added to authorization bill during markup puts three-year cap on A-76 competitions.
Defense
House Armed Services panel approves $712 billion defense package
Measure includes 3.9 percent military pay raise, half a pecentage point higher than President Bush had requested.
Defense
From Nextgov.com: Air Force looking to build cyber weapons
Requests industry to help it hide in enemy’s networks and take down systems, but some believe the service isn’t ready to deal with cyber warfare .
Defense
FEMA under fire for slow progress on new alert system
A 2006 executive order gave Homeland Security the responsibility to develop nationwide digital disaster alerts.
Defense
House Armed Services agrees to boost submarine funds
Panel adds $422 million to the Navy's Virginia-class submarine program.
Defense
Tanker contract likely to fuel long House markup debate
Other amendments seek to overturn cuts to the Army's Future Combat Systems, missile defense programs and several major weapons systems.
Defense
Marine Corps seeks return to its role as a naval force
After fighting alongside the Army in Iraq for five years, the Corps now needs new -- and expensive -- equipment.
Defense
Senate Commerce hearing gives TSA positive reviews
But panel sharply questioned plan to impose a passenger fee increase to pay for additional baggage screening technology.
Defense
Ex-State officials allege corruption cover up
Critics have suggested the agency has not pushed anticorruption efforts to avoid hurting relations with the Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.
Defense
Internet fuels emergence of violent Islamist groups in the United States
Federal agencies have no comprehensive strategy to combat terrorist message, Senate committee finds.
Defense
State Department proposes to relax aircraft export rules
Move aims to address aerospace industry's chronic complaints that the cumbersome process of approving licenses to export their products handicaps companies' ability to compete.
Defense