Defense

Activist to sue Defense Department claiming religious bias

Former Air Force judge advocate alleges the military is promoting fundamentalist Christianity.

Defense

Lawmakers propose nuclear plant no-fly zones

Regulatory commission and Homeland Security officials say existing measures are sufficient.

Defense

Watchdog urges Defense agency to better control interagency buys

Missile Defense Agency failed to properly manage interdepartmental purchase requests, IG finds.

Defense

OPM unveils technology to speed security clearance processing

If pilot is successful, all agencies could begin receiving background check files electronically by Oct. 1.

Defense

DHS aims to spur innovation in radiation detection

Office is asking universities to work on finding shielded material, detecting material at greater distances, miniaturizing detectors and improving analysis.

Defense

An eye toward a future with electronic passports

Chips could become fast and reliable enough to allow the electronic issuance of visas in five years.

Defense

Appropriators question funding for emergency wireless project

Senators express concern about "lagging progress, as well as the recurring costs of the conversion" to narrowband operations.

Defense

Homeland Security chief touts faster cargo scanning

Recently signed law requires DHS to ensure, within five years, that all U.S.-bound ship cargo is scanned at foreign ports.

Defense

Army Guard says $2 billion shortfall threatens 2008 recruiting

Guard may have to lay off as many as 800 recruiters and stop awarding enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses if deficit isn’t addressed.

Defense

Army suicides on the rise

Growth raises questions about mental health care provided to service members.

Defense

Senate leader wants panels to pursue spy law changes

Majority leader urges committee chairs to be aggressive in examining recently-enacted provisions that sunset in six months.

Defense

Air Force’s commitment to new bomber a matter of debate

The service has said it will fly upgraded version by 2018, but analysts aren’t sure how serious the effort is.

Defense

ADVICE+DISSENT: Intelligence File Precision and Privacy

Searching for Shane Harris.

Defense

IG urges better post-disaster data sharing

Privacy requirements hurt law enforcement agencies’ ability to locate missing children and others in aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, auditors found.

Defense

Justice, civil liberties groups battle over spy tactics

Justice spokesman says agency appreciates input from the groups, which are upset over temporary expansion of intelligence law.

Defense

Planning difficult with deployments, Army chief says

Service leader also acknowledges that soldiers don’t get enough time off between deployments.

Defense

Security clearance challenges defy easy fixes

During a six-month period ending in March, the government took an average of 208 days to issue secret and confidential clearances and 276 days to grant top-secret ones.

Defense

Travel industry lobbying to help ease U.S. policies

Group is advocating “common-sense” measures to make travel less burdensome while embracing additional security.

Defense

Effort to draw down troops on border invites mixed reactions

There is widespread concern in border states -- particularly New Mexico and Arizona -- that the White House is cutting back the mission too soon.

Defense

Funding to keep Guard troops on border left unsettled

Pentagon budget planners may face the difficult task of shifting dollars within the department's accounts to pay for the mission.