Defense

Legislators prepare bill to thwart proposed Tricare fee hike

Measure would require Pentagon to seek congressional consent before adjusting healthcare fees.

Defense

Forward Observer: A Whistleblower's Lament

Ernie Fitzgerald says he has little to show for the decades he spent trying to expose wasteful spending on defense contracts.

Defense

Military says training, gear needed for future disasters

Chief of National Guard Bureau says more money also is needed to improve interagency training between the Homeland Security and Defense departments.

Defense

House panel postpones work on Homeland Security authorization bill

Republicans, Democrats at odds over process for crafting the legislation.

Defense

As reservists come home, Pentagon shifts burden to regular forces

National Guard and Reserve troops filled the gap in Iraq while the regular Army underwent a radical overhaul.

Defense

Senate panel narrowly approves fiscal 2007 budget plan

Blueprint would boost discretionary spending about 3.6 percent over this year, with the bulk of the increase going toward defense.

Defense

Senate panel votes to double size of border force

More than 10,000 Customs and Border Patrol agents would be added, and fences along the border would be upgraded.

Defense

Senators fear budget may shortchange Navy shipbuilding

Lawmakers also ask Marine Corps whether the supplemental spending bills allot enough for overhauls of equipment damaged in Iraq.

Defense

Democrats successfully push transportation security measures

Fight erupts over language providing incentives, grants to airports using private screening companies.

Defense

Defense business agency meeting goals, official says

The Pentagon’s Business Transformation Agency plans to hire private-sector “experts” to help push changes.

Defense

Request to boost special operations budget gains support

Funding would go toward adding troops, buying aircraft, and investments in civil affairs and psychological operations.

Defense

DHS official says next FEMA chief needs credentials

Emergency management experience could come from a variety of jobs, including law enforcement and firefighting, preparedness chief says.

Defense

Senators critical of Energy Department’s nuclear weapons spending

Lawmakers express concerns about efficiency, signal they are considering a funding cut.

Defense

Push to restore FEMA independence questioned

DHS inspector general cautions against simply "transferring the problem."

Defense

Senator may address spying concerns in supplemental funding bill

Lawmaker says he may resort to the power of the purse if he can’t get satisfactory answers on warrantless domestic eavesdropping program.

Defense

Homeland Security chief proposes screening of customer data

Suggestion could be viewed as “anti-privacy,” Michael Chertoff acknowledges.

Defense

Former White House staffer named to head DHS policy committee

The 28-year-old appointee may join list of inexperienced, but well-connected, homeland security picks.

Defense

Homeland Security grapples with management vacancies

Several senior management positions are open, notably ones critical to disaster response and terrorism prevention.

Defense

Maritime security measure gathers bipartisan support

Bill would require $400 million to be reserved annually for port security grants, an approach that diverges from the one favored by DHS.

Defense

New panel to begin in-depth review of military reserves

Preliminary report to be released in June will brief congressional committees on equipment shortages, troop strength and other issues.