Defense

Navy plans to land pilotless drones on carriers

Service has hired Northrop Grumman to build two planes for demonstration purposes.

Defense

DHS to require flight passenger information before takeoff

New early sharing of information is intended to give authorities more time to identify and remove suspected terrorists from flights.

Defense

EPA, VA clear officials who appeared in religious video

Officials did not appear in uniform and weren’t identified by title.

Defense

IT, metal industries fighting over proposed Defense rule

Change would let the Pentagon buy commercial ready-made weapons parts without determining if they contain metals produced overseas.

Defense

IG criticizes Army, Air Force officers’ participation in religious video

Four generals and three other officers should not have appeared in an official capacity in video promoting Christian group, investigators say.

Defense

House Dem. cautions on speed of U.S. troop pullout from Iraq

Proper withdrawal would take between 15 months and two years, former three-star admiral representing Pennsylvania says.

Defense

House backs full collective bargaining rights at Defense

Amendment to spending bill would halt funding for the labor relations portions of the Pentagon's personnel overhaul.

Defense

Law grants whistleblower protections to transportation workers

Language giving collective bargaining rights to federal airport screeners doesn’t make it into final version of security measure.

Defense

Senate panel backs Coast Guard reauthorization bill

Measure would allow $1 billion in funds for the troubled Deepwater fleet upgrade program.

Defense

Panel hears estimates, pleas for long-term Gulf Coast aid

Some lawmakers question whether federal officials are leaning on states hard enough to curb potential waste, fraud or abuse in recovery programs.

Defense

Senate bill creates DHS management post

Measure would add a deputy secretary to serve as a principal adviser to the secretary of the department on all issues related to management.

Defense

Increase in dangerous posts strains Foreign Service

State Department is facing staffing and training challenges as short-term hardship assignments become more common.

Defense

Web-based military health records system called bureaucratic, not technical, challenge

Commercial vendors say similar systems already are in place in the private sector.

Defense

Lawmaker probes need to streamline Homeland Security oversight

Top Democrat on Homeland Security panel seeks GAO review; ranking member already convinced overhaul is necessary.

Defense

Bush pushes lawmakers to act on spying bill

Administration is urging Congress to move fast to broaden the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Defense

Rumsfeld faces House oversight panel on Tillman death

Hearing witnesses say there was no attempt at a cover-up, but acknowledge the Army failed to follow rules in informing family of circumstances.

Defense

House lawmaker joins bid to end TSA contracting exemption

Senators are making a similar effort; witnesses at hearing say changes would bring greater transparency, more competition.

Defense

Frustrations raised over delays in frequent traveler program

Transportation Security Administration chief says the agency supports the program, but has to focus on other priorities.

Defense

Democrats say additional money is needed for war

Unbudgeted needs associated with surge of troops in Iraq could reach $30 billion or more, House appropriators estimate.

Intelligence File

Bearing Witness