Defense

Forward Observer: Another Seat at the Table

National Guard leader would have benefited from being a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Defense

Data mining helps uncover fraud in disaster relief

GAO used technique to locate FEMA payments that were based on duplicative registration data.

Defense

Two controversial counter-terror programs share parallels

Total Information Awareness successor could be used to enhance NSA domestic eavesdropping program, former officials say.

Defense

FEMA abandons target date for full staffing

New director says he is no longer sure when agency will be near full capacity, cites bureaucracy as a problem.

Defense

Affidavit says Cunningham intervened on limo firm's behalf

Contract was awarded through full and open competition, and alleged letter on company's behalf is nowhere to be found, DHS says.

Defense

Bush signs supplemental spending bill

Measure to provide war, border security, Gulf Coast recovery and avian flu funding also sets discretionary spending cap for fiscal 2007.

Defense

Panel wraps up contentious markup of chemical security bill

The bill would give DHS authority, for the first time, to regulate companies that make, store, process or sell chemicals.

Defense

Senate approves change in future war funding

Measure designed to steer Pentagon away from hefty emergency funding requests; would affect the fiscal 2008 budget.

Defense

Post-Sept. 11 veterans given edge in federal hiring

OPM rule goes into effect immediately, without waiting for comment period.

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.