Tech

Intelligence chief establishes information-sharing panel

“Much work” is left in this area, despite success meeting some key targets, intelligence director says.

Defense

State Guard units press for new Stryker brigade

Cost could be a major hurdle.

Defense

Bush cites progress in Iraq, vows to fix healthcare woes

President announces that a bipartisan commission will conduct a comprehensive review of military health care.

Defense

Democrats closing in on Iraq troop withdrawal proposal

Plan may require the Iraqi government to meet benchmarks that would dictate the timetable for the departure of U.S. forces.

Defense

Senate defeats bid to strike TSA union rights provision

The White House has threatened a veto if lawmakers continue to support the language, which is contained within a massive security bill.

Defense

Lawmakers say TSA whistleblower rights provision goes too far

If language in a rail security bill is enacted, whistleblowers could gain an unfair advantage in cases alleging retaliation, panel members say.

Defense

States moving to implement ID card requirements

All states must finish replacing non-compliant licenses by 2013, a task DHS estimates will cost as much as $23 billion.

Defense

Bill to provide supplemental defense funding encounters delays

A spokesman for the House Appropriations Committee says the measure will not be taken up Thursday, as lawmakers originally intended.

Tech

Senator says Bush’s involvement key to immigration reform

Vermont senator would like to move on to other measures, including one to create a national standard for data security.

Management

Officials say outsourcing partly to blame for Walter Reed failures

Public-private job competition was based on outdated, pre-9/11 workload estimates, September memorandum warned.

Defense

TSA head says collective bargaining would be costly

Kip Hawley estimates price tag for implementing bargaining rights would be $160 million.

Defense

Key senator schedules showdown on TSA bargaining language

One compromise option would let screeners unionize, but give the agency the authority to take actions deemed necessary in emergencies.

Defense

Army secretary resigns amid Walter Reed scandal

Poor conditions at the facility came to light last month in a series of reports by The Washington Post .

Defense

Senators explore federal finances at sparsely attended hearing

Freshman Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., is stunned to learn that agencies regularly fail financial audits without serious consequences.

Defense

Military chiefs defend veterans' care, shipbuilding costs

Most problems with treatment occur once the severely wounded have left the services and are waiting to get into other treatment programs, officials say.

Defense

DHS lacks timetable for monitoring visitor departures

Exit tracking component of US VISIT “not ready for prime time yet,” program official says.

Defense

Democrats want to redirect war aid

Afghanistan needs more resources, particularly for reconstruction, House speaker says.

Defense

ADVICE+DISSENT: Intelligence File Behind the Scene

New spy chief Mike McConnell knows how the shadow intelligence community works.

Tech

Federal officials say data sharing efforts are improving

Homeland Security has created 38 "fusion centers" to blend law enforcement and intelligence information.

Defense

Air Force leaders argue need to retire old aircraft

Mothballing oldest planes would save $1.7 billion a year in maintenance costs, service officials say.