Defense
State Department urged to beef up mental health support
Foreign Service employees returning from the Middle East may decide not to seek help for emotional problems due to fear of retaliation, officials testify.
Defense
Analysts say plans to buy fighter jets too costly
Report doesn’t recommend cancellation of program, but says services need to look at more affordable options.
Defense
Panel probes effort to monitor Mexican trucks at border
At issue is how well the Transportation Security Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection work together.
Defense
DHS delays plans for land-sea passport requirement
Retreat from initial January 2008 goal expected to ease strain on passport processing agency.
Defense
DHS technology chief faces tough questioning at House hearing
Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., says security breaches make him question Scott Charbo's "ability to lead the department's IT efforts."
Defense
Coast Guard names executive to new acquisition job
Position added as part of effort to strengthen the service’s contracting efforts in face of Deepwater controversy.
Defense
House Republicans propose immigration measure
Legislation emphasizes beefed-up border security, detention of illegal immigrants and increased enforcement against employers who hire illegal workers.
Defense
Air Force helicopter contract faces another holdup
Companies challenge the service’s modification to a request for proposals, saying it doesn’t comply with a GAO recommendation.
Defense
Border Patrol to expedite training for Spanish speakers
Plan will free up space so academy can handle influx of agents, but questions remain as to the adequacy of training and mentoring in the field.
Defense
Coast Guard considering drones to watch long coastlines
Planes would be able to linger over stretches of coast and improve the tracking of small vessels that are less than 300 gross tons, official says.
Defense
Committee draft of terrorism coverage bill divides industry
Measure would reauthorize federal risk insurance program for 10 years and lower the program's trigger from the current $100 million to $50 million.
Defense
House, Senate security bills differ on tech projects
Senators opt to provide only $362 million for visitor tracking program, $100 million less than the House.
Defense
TB incident highlights gaps in response to irrational behavior
While some blame can be placed with a single border officer, U.S. officials made the broader mistake of assuming Andrew Speaker would act predictably.
Defense
Security focus driving away foreign tourists, former DHS chief says
The government needs to strike a new balance between having security while welcoming travelers and tourists, Tom Ridge says.
Defense
Lawmaker pressures Navy to use unwanted catamaran
Ranking Republican on House Armed Services panel encourages the service to move the ship from research to real-world operations.
Defense
House blocks funding for DHS personnel reforms
Senate committee approves only $5 million of $15 million President Bush requested for the system in fiscal 2008.
Defense
ADVICE+DISSENT: Intelligence File The Contractor Conundrum
Intelligence agencies won’t say how many contractors they’ve hired. But we’ll give it a shot.
Defense
Staunch earmark opponent in Senate probes House add-ons
Senator has threatened to block House-Senate conference negotiations on spending bills if they do not meet new standards for earmark disclosures.
Defense
Senators eye funding to save immigration reform bill
Negotiators favor adding $4.4 billion in funds immediately upon enactment; Republicans outside the negotiating team prefer an emergency supplemental.
Defense