Defense
Panel blasts FEMA over new, higher fraud estimate
Agency typically has held its waste and fraud rate to between 1 percent and 3 percent, but Katrina overwhelmed systems, official says.
Defense
Lawmakers seek more precision in TSA’s terrorist watch list
Failure of program to expedite screening for frequent fliers to move past development stage also frustrates legislators.
Defense
Agencies may not meet goal of speeding security clearances
Industry officials predict December deadline could be tough even for swiftest agencies.
Tech
House committee OKs standards for security tools, training
Measure also would require DHS to create a program for transferring to the private sector terrorism and disaster response technology developed with federal funding.
Defense
Panel rejects stricter measures to protect chemical plants
Committee defeats several amendments to bill giving DHS authority to regulate facilities making, processing, storing or selling chemicals.
Defense
Fraudulent Katrina aid may exceed $1 billion
GAO revises its estimate of improper payments in FEMA disaster assistance program upward, to as much as $1.4 billion.
Defense
House panel approves Defense, Labor-HHS spending bills
Full chamber passes $94.5 billion supplemental spending measure for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, border security, hurricane relief and pandemic flu preparedness.
Defense
Chemical industry ready to square off over security bill
Industry says proposed provisions are onerous and duplicative, while environmental and labor groups say they don’t go far enough.
Tech
GAO: FBI case management assets remain missing
Bureau says it has accounted for 800 of 1,200 missing pieces of equipment, but GAO could not verify the claim.
Defense
Legislators want to hear from domestic spying witness
NSA missed a Friday deadline to provide any legal reason subcommittee leaders can’t interview former intelligence officer.
Tech
Panelists question future of cargo-scanning tool
Government needs screening system that can be dialed up or down depending on threat and risk level, former DHS official says.
Defense
Lawmakers to weigh chemical security measures
In addition, House panel will take another look at how the Homeland Security Department is distributing anti-terrorism grants.
Tech
Unmanned border flights suspended despite Bush call for more
Bush border plan calls for use of drones to detect illegal crossings, but Border Patrol hasn’t flown one along the southern border since April crash.
Defense
Negotiators reach deal on supplemental spending bill
Senate appropriators agree to trim $14.4 billion from their version of bill to meet Bush's demands.
Defense
Subpanel votes to remove disaster housing from FEMA
Bill would shift responsibility to HUD and would allow only three emergency housing trailers per site to avoid crowding.
Defense
VA opposes bill to let veterans hire lawyers
Legislation being pushed in House and Senate would allow vets to use legal counsel to help in obtaining benefits.
Defense
Army weighs options for scaling back combat systems upgrade
Long-term program, now valued at between $160 billion and $200 billion, is one of the service’s most expensive technological efforts.
Defense
Corporate disaster response team hailed as model of efficiency
Time to fix communications infrastructure in typical scenario is less than 24 hours, AT&T officials say.
Defense
Chertoff warns senators against an independent FEMA
Separation would be costly and would make the government’s response to disasters less coordinated, DHS secretary argues.
Defense