Defense
Officials move toward year-long requests for extra war funding
Risk is that the Pentagon may be unable to produce accurate estimates of how much it will need for the longer span.
Defense
House bill would boost power of DHS privacy chief
Language would give top privacy official subpoena power and authority to report directly to Congress.
Defense
Attorney general grilled over domestic spying changes
Justice Department announced it would change how the spying initiative operates by getting permission from a secret court that fields requests for surveillance warrants on U.S. soil.
Defense
California legislator tapped to lead key homeland security subpanel
Rep. Jane Harman picked to chair subcommittee that oversees domestic intelligence issues, government information-sharing, threat and vulnerability assessments, and the Secret Service.
Defense
GAO criticizes Homeland Security assessment of risks
Auditors noted the Transportation Security Administration had not completed a comprehensive risk assessment of the nation's rail passenger network.
Defense
Ruling upholds results of DHS union election
Agency applauds decision; union that raised objections has yet to determine whether it will appeal.
Defense
Lawmaker asks overseers to agree on meaning of ‘waste’
Common definition would be precursor to estimating wasteful spending on Iraq reconstruction.
Defense
Auditor faults Defense’s reliance on interagency contracts
Pentagon acquisition officials told inspectors they often made purchases through other agencies in part because it was faster.
Defense
TSA to cut number of names on 'no-fly' list
Requirement to inspect all freight cargo being put on passenger planes would provide only a small, incremental benefit, agency chief says.
Defense
Cash-strapped Army plans cuts to future combat program
Memo emphasized that cuts are budget-driven and not a result of poor contractor performance.
Defense
Lawmakers call on TSA to step up inspections of private planes
A larger staff may be necessary to oversee general aviation, which accounts for three-quarters of U.S. flights.
Defense
Defense reluctant to share data on Iraqi troop readiness
GAO chief says the information would help lawmakers engage in constructive oversight.
Defense
Medals for military valor rarely in the spotlight
The rate at which such medals are awarded has dropped well below that during the Vietnam War and World War II.
Defense
Industry counts on Democrats to support Defense spending
Democrats will have to balance tough oversight with funding to meet emerging threats and to support troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Defense
Privacy advocates decry accessing of bank records under security law
The New York Times reported Sunday that the Defense Department and CIA have been utilizing a special subpoena power to scour bank and credit-card records.
Defense
Advisory council seeks tighter cyber security net
Council also approves report on avian flu preparations, recommending prioritization of workers to receive vaccines.
Defense
Bush Iraq plan remains a hard sell on Capitol Hill
Presentation by Defense Secretary Robert Gates leaves Democrats on Senate Armed Services panel unimpressed.
Defense
House reworks security panels, top Republicans named
Intelligence, Information Sharing and Terrorism Risk Assessment Subcommittee was kept intact.
Defense
Agencies detail massive effort to evacuate Lebanon
For some stranded Americans, help from the government did not come soon enough.
Defense