Defense

Air Force chief argues for future cuts in reserve forces

Request comes as governors and National Guard leaders are fighting an Army decision to seek funding for 17,000 fewer Guard troops.

Defense

Homeland Security gets moving on border project

Department is looking for a contractor to help develop and integrate technology and infrastructure with border personnel.

Defense

Senator pushes Navy to reimburse Northrop for post-Katrina delays

Such costs are generally covered by insurance, but the defense giant and its insurer are in litigation.

Defense

Union officials criticize Bush’s choice for FEMA director

But David Paulison wins backing of some legislators.

Defense

Internet devices threaten NSA’s ability to gather intelligence legally

Bush argues that the 27-year-old law governing domestic eavesdropping doesn’t adequately address Internet-based communications.

Defense

Controversial language likely to be cut from immigration bill

Provisions in House-passed legislation--such as language that would make it a felony to be in the United States illegally--are all but certain not to become law.

Defense

Coalition shares ideas for implementing standard IDs

By 2008 states will be required to issue cards, such as driver’s licenses, meeting federal specifications.

Defense

Small union moves to delay election at DHS bureau

Union claims agriculture inspectors wouldn’t be adequately served by either of the two large unions on the ballot.

Defense

House lawmaker aims to boost money for grants

Member says he will fight Bush’s decision to eliminate funding for grants to help emergency response groups pay for personnel.

Defense

Appropriators skeptical of promised secure border initiative

House subcommittee chairman demands strategic plan; program manager says one is on the way by the end of April.

Defense

Bush picks acting FEMA chief to take job permanently

R. David Paulison has been interim head of the agency since Michael Brown resigned after severe criticism of the Hurricane Katrina response.

Defense

Lawmaker wary of progress in Defense IT transformation

Technology is essential to the United States retaining an edge on the battlefield, witnesses at House hearing say.

Defense

Coast Guard may scrap plans for customized patrol boats

The acquisition of new boats is a key piece of a $24 billion modernization project known as Deepwater.

Defense

Navy works to stall submarine deal with Taiwan

Agency supports deal publicly, but said to have set up barriers to make the submarines economically unattractive to Taiwan.

Defense

Pentagon business systems acquisition overhaul due shortly

Revamp, designed to encourage speedier purchases of such systems, will be announced within the next month.

Defense

Key legislator decries Pentagon budget crunch

House member suggests another base-closure round as one way of remedying the problem.

Defense

Legislators concerned by potential shortfalls in base closure funding

The Army and the Air Force could come up short billions of dollars by the 2011 cutoff for carrying out BRAC recommendations.

Defense

Investigators call cargo security program unreliable

Customs and Border Protection bureau lacks evidence that program targeting high-risk containers is effective, GAO says.

Defense

Navy secretary says shipbuilders need long-term focus

Agency plans to build its fleet by more than 30 ships over the next three decades.

Defense

TSA official says airport security is too predictable

Agency is working on a program to train screeners in behavior recognition techniques.