Defense

Study questions long-term expense and use of mine resistant vehicles

Report acknowledges the pressing need for the combat vehicles, but recommends a rigorous assessment of the costs, operational need and future use of the vehicles.

Defense

Naval forces outline new national maritime strategy

Forward-looking document addresses politically sensitive issues, such as global warming and the emerging dispute over access to the previously ice-bound Arctic seas.

Defense

Commissioners call for streamlined vets benefits

Recommendations include assigning the Defense Department sole responsibility for performing physical exams that determine soldiers' fitness to serve.

Defense

Defense comptroller: Financial management better than perceived

Further improvements hinge on showing military leaders and managers why it’s important to their mission, comptroller says.

Defense

House panel questions benefits for deployed civilians

Hardship pay and other benefits are sufficient to attract qualified civilian employees to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan, agency representatives say.

Defense

Senators question Defense's attempts to improve management

Defense official testifies that by 2009 the Pentagon expects to earn clean audit opinions on 39 percent of its assets, up from almost none in the 1990s.

Defense

Pentagon asks Congress to drop plan for Afghanistan IG

Defense officials say the office would be redundant and deplete the department’s regular inspector general of needed personnel.

Defense

TSA begins issuing ID cards to port workers

House committee demands an explanation for delays in implementing the program.

Defense

Lawmakers urge Pentagon to hold off on new pay policy

Three House members say employees under new personnel system should get the raise they had anticipated for 2008.

Defense

Internet-based system for federal documents previewed

The Future Digital System to store and distribute information will replace the GPO Access Web site and other Government Printing Office operations.

Defense

IT standards cited as key to meeting intelligence sharing goals

FBI technology chief says success on 500-day plan to improve collaboration requires communitywide standards.

Defense

Changes to Air Force IT contract could benefit new vendors

Proposal would split new version of the contract vehicle into three parts.

Defense

Thin line separates aggressive fighting from war crimes

The somewhat ambiguous rules of warfare make the snap judgments that combat requires even more difficult.

Defense

Military leaders seek larger-than-planned force in Europe

The Pentagon plans to maintain only two combat brigades in Europe, but officials are rethinking that strategy.

Defense

State Department downplays report of security contractor drawdown

Agency spokeswoman says it’s “premature to speculate” about major policy changes.

Defense

Federal judge puts hold on key immigration enforcement plan

Judge says until case is decided, employers cannot be held liable for failing to address “no-match” letters identifying discrepancies in workers’ records.

Defense

House panel weighs need to account for nuclear material

Lawmaker has unveiled legislation to assist the government in creating a data bank that would make it easier to trace the origins of such material.

Defense

Army seeks to balance near-term, future needs

Officials stress commitment to modernization program, while acknowledging more immediate demands for equipment repair and replacement.

Defense

Democrats beat back GOP changes to spy bill

House Judiciary and Intelligence committees both approve legislation to overhaul the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Defense

Updated White House homeland security strategy criticized

Lawmakers and security experts say the document is thin on specifics.