Defense

Civil liberties group unveils documents on Pentagon surveillance

Group calls upon Congress to investigate surveillance activities.

Defense

Travelers' ID program on fast track despite Hill concerns

Department officials plan to implement rule faster than is required by legislative language signed into law last month.

Defense

Transportation sector lags in joining infrastructure protection effort

Some industries formed councils as early as 2002 to better coordinate security efforts with the government

Defense

Massachusetts Dem seeks defense oversight subpanel chairmanship

Prospective leader proposes focusing on force protection, military readiness, Pentagon funding priorities and contracting abuses.

Defense

Federal information-sharing plan may face hurdles

Proposal would give state and local law enforcement a more direct role in exchanging information.

Defense

Travel groups say U.S. visitors report unfriendly reception

DHS spokesman says study attributing a decline in visitors in part to the way they're treated by government officials at airports is “flawed and self-serving.”

Defense

DHS chief says foreign courts inhibit U.S. security efforts

International judicial activism could affect the U.S. government's use of the PATRIOT Act or "force" the United States to afford legal rights to illegal aliens, Michael Chertoff says.

Defense

IG: Federal Protective Service slow to pay contractors

Inadequate oversight has contributed to payment for services not received, and has placed employees and facilities at risk, report states.

Defense

Panel votes to extend Iraq reconstruction oversight office

Without the measure, which the full Senate has also passed as an add-on to a spending bill, the office is scheduled to close in October 2007.

Defense

DHS continues to integrate IT contracting processes

Department spends as much as $6 billion annually on technology acquisitions alone.

Defense

Task force advocates innovation focus in military

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich says long-term goal should be not just combating terrorism but leading in science by investing in national security advances.

Management

Army Corps nixes public-private contest for 2,000 jobs

Agency will reorganize employees into a “high-performing organization” and pledges the process won’t involve layoffs.

Defense

Military services questioned over financial management

Service officials acknowledge more work is needed, but tout attempts to transform their business offices over the last year.

Defense

Senators take aim at Defense Travel System’s reservation tool

Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., threatens to hold up next year’s Pentagon spending bill if issues with the travel system are not resolved.

Defense

Key House Democrat lambastes Iraq policy

Lack of a plan for post-combat occupancy and failure to deploy an adequate number of troops are among many flaws cited.

Tech

Legislators demand cost estimate for border program

Manager says DHS will give lawmakers a report Dec. 4 laying out the initiative's costs, schedule and deployments.

Defense

Senate panel leader weighs Iraq options as general opposes deadlines

Armed Services panel chairman urges colleagues to "carefully study" the findings of the independent and bipartisan Iraq Study Group, as well as conclusions from a military-led review of Iraq.

Tech

Inspector general outlines flaws in border security plan

Initiative is vulnerable to changing schedule and cost estimates, Homeland Security IG says.

Defense

Homeland Security chief touts progress filling senior positions

FEMA is at its highest staffing level this year, but is still falling short of meeting its hiring goals.

Defense

Chertoff, Democrats agree to weigh border fence alternatives

More “virtual fencing" -- using technology such as cameras, sensors and communications equipment -- is an option.