Defense
DHS officials to submit plan soon for visitor tracking system
More than half of the fiscal 2007 funding the Homeland Security spending bill provides for the program will be held up until the plan is ready.
Defense
Details emerge on Pentagon performance management system
Rating scales, types of goals, weighting scheme all included in recently released information.
Defense
Contracts to shield planes from missiles are awarded
Department has awarded $7.4 million to three companies to evaluate and demonstrate technology for defeating shoulder-fired missiles.
Defense
Iraq reconstruction oversight office to expand, then disband
Senators condemn provision in recently signed authorization law to terminate oversight group in late 2007.
Defense
Dem says GOP's port bill tactics hurt bipartisan relations
Ranking member of House Homeland Security panel is angry Democrats weren’t allowed to offer amendments during final conference negotiations.
Defense
Report cites delays in clearance appeals process at State
Inspectors find no evidence to support allegations that the department revoked clearances for nonsecurity reasons, however.
Defense
Watchdog cites flaws in transportation ID program
Challenges include enrolling workers and issuing cards in a timely manner, and ensuring biometric readers work effectively.
Defense
Pentagon pursues more 'proactive' liaison role on Hill
New guidance motivated by desire to have office better reflect changing bureaucracy in the Pentagon and respond faster to requests for information.
Defense
Defense punts on Iraq contractor census
Researcher says that overall, contractors and grantees working for agencies outnumber civil servants by more than 5 to 1.
Defense
U.S. options to control violence in Iraq narrowing
Country lacks the support and resources for all-out war effort, leaving few palatable choices.
Defense
Agency explores new tool to connect intelligence dots
Document for prospective contractors offers blunt assessment of flaws in efforts to profile terrorists, including inability to move beyond “guilt by association” models.
Defense
Airlines rap DHS proposal on passenger lists
Requirement to submit passenger manifests an hour, rather than 15 minutes, before departure is unreasonable, they say.
Tech
State Department seeks advice on border cards
Agency issued a draft rule earlier this week, saying it is considering radio-frequency identification that can be read by machines from 30 feet.
Defense
Key lawmakers urge more data sharing at borders
Ranking member of homeland security panel asks GAO to review how information sharing is working.
Defense
Navy's quest for high-altitude drone attracts major firms
Drone is intended to fly at an altitude of more than 40,000 feet and provide constant maritime surveillance to forces.
Defense
Defense official pledges continued investments in special ops
Goal is to develop a "global sensor network" of troops capable of collecting human intelligence.
Defense
Cunningham probe could lead to officials in Defense, intelligence
House inquiry finds actions by federal employees enabled illegal contract awards.
Defense
Quick-scan passport cards proposed for some hemisphere travel
RFID cards would be readable from a distance, speeding up traffic at congested ports and borders, officials say.
Defense
Chertoff urges Latin America to back passport rules
Industry and government must accept a process for worldwide trade and travel that includes heightened security measures, DHS secretary says.
Defense