Defense
Rail safety bill clears Senate transportation panel
Measure would require the Transportation Department to update railroad hours-of-service laws to give employees more rest time.
Defense
Former DHS official touts emergency-response network
The project aims to provide interactive maps and breaking news alerts on wireless text devices, as well as a national database of community stakeholders.
Defense
Security measures called threat to shipping business
Any maritime or homeland security strategy that puts a “chink in the supply chain” will do more harm than good, industry official argues.
Oversight
Blackwater executive to testify before House panel
Oversight hearing will focus on the role of private security contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Defense
Critics not satisfied by naming of Pentagon management chief
Proponents of the position say it needs to be occupied by an official who can give it his or her full attention.
Defense
Steady funding, staffing urged for executive boards
Groups can play a key role in crisis, but support and expectations need to be clear, panelists say at hearing.
Defense
'Buy American' dispute stalls delivery of 1,000 military trucks
Champion of restrictions says the Army is not interpreting new limits on metals from foreign suppliers correctly, and could get a temporary waiver.
Defense
Lawmakers deplore 'frightening' state of Army readiness
Service officials urge lawmakers to ensure that continuing resolution has enough money to support the Army's current operations and procurement needs.
Defense
Lawmaker slams coordination at security 'fusion centers'
California Democrat stresses that the FBI and Homeland Security must partner with state intelligence officials and "not dictate who should be doing what."
Defense
Bill unveiled to address ‘nightmare’ of Iraqi refugees
Legislation would require the Homeland Security and State departments to expedite processing and streamline screening.
Defense
Senators demand tighter security along northern border
Border Patrol official concedes that at any given time, only 250 officers are on duty along the northern border, which stretches about 4,000 miles.
Defense
Survey: Feds less satisfied than private employees with moving services
Federal employees and military personnel may keep their belongings in storage longer, increasing the possibility of damage.
Defense
House Dems weigh delay for extra war funding
Democrats are frustrated by impasse on overall spending levels for fiscal 2008, and the lack of specificity in the White House’s amended war budget.
Defense
Probe finds major security gaps along U.S.-Canada border
Federal lands along the southern border are also vulnerable, investigators say; Customs, Border agency downplays findings.
Defense
House passes stopgap funding bill to keep agencies open
Maneuvering for language condemning recent ad by anti-war group comes amid partisan rhetoric over slow progress on annual spending bills.
Defense
DHS official touts ongoing revisions to emergency response plan
Aim is to “make sure people actually pick [the plan] up and use it,” emergency management official says.
Defense
DHS upgrades employment eligibility screening system
Government sues state of Illinois for its failure to embrace the Web-based program.
Defense
State Department accused of stonewalling congressional panel
Agency is hindering investigations into corruption in Iraq and the controversial security firm Blackwater USA, Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., says.
Defense
Intelligence chief scolded for being 'disingenuous'
Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., interrupts opening statement at hearing to criticize references to outdated 1978 spy law, noting the law has been amended frequently.
Defense