Defense

Panel criticizes FEMA's handling of flood insurance program

Agency accused of failing to implement program overhaul enacted nearly 16 months ago.

Defense

Rumsfeld seeks to scale back 'burdensome' reports

Defense secretary tells Pentagon officials to push for changes in "obsolete" laws and work on legislation to give department greater management flexibility.

Defense

DHS failed to use catastrophe response plan in Katrina’s wake

Department defends decision, saying plan was meant for unforeseen disasters.

Defense

Chertoff calls for the end of 'catch and release'

Homeland Security secretary says 1,500 Border Patrol agents are being hired to beef up enforcement.

Defense

9/11 commissioners at odds with former backers

Members of panel disagree with key senators on proposal to change formula for first-responder grants.

Defense

Senators spar over changes to future combat system

McCain, appropriators in tangle over spending bill language.

Defense

Senators may review military's domestic role

Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner, R-Va., will decide later this fall how to proceed with a congressional review of 1878 Posse Comitatus Act.

Defense

Katrina oversight proposals compete for Congress' attention

Move to establish central board to oversee recovery efforts appears to be on back burner.

Defense

Pentagon to house business programs in central agency

Various departmentwide initiatives would be included in agency’s portfolio.

Defense

CIA report offers fresh critiques of Iraq intelligence

Newly declassified study says intelligence agency managers failed to exercise quality control checks on analysis.

Defense

Senate backs more Defense R&D than Bush sought

Pentagon would receive $70.4 billion for R&D; Bush proposed $69.4 billion.

Defense

Emergency spending gives senators flexibility on Defense

Budget watchers say appropriators freed up large sums of money by transferring programs from the traditional budget to the $50 billion wartime emergency account.

Tech

Congress agrees to split off DHS cybersecurity unit

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff had proposed to break out cybersecurity division from department's information analysis and infrastructure protection organization.

Defense

Homeland Security sets uniform policy on prosecuting fraud

Rule allows department to go after fraudulent Katrina-related claims.

Defense

Ex-CIA officer heads to court for second time over proposed book

Gary Berntsen seeks to force agency to respond to suit over delays in pre-publication review of his book on operations in Afghanistan.

Defense

Systems cannot combat flu pandemic, health officials say

Problem is not tracking influenza but getting critical information on outbreaks to doctors and local emergency responders.

Defense

Air Force chief vows crackdown on cost overruns

In tight budget environment, agency will look for ways to cut back.

Defense

Expansion of alien removal policy could create logistical headaches

Broader use of "expedited removal" authority would also present resource questions, congressional researchers find.

Tech

Group uses Web to urge high-tech border fence

Conservative organization calls on Congress to build a state-of-the-art fence along the southern U.S. border to stop illegal immigration into the country.

Defense

In one Louisiana parish, flexibility trumps bureaucracy

The experience of Plaquemines Parish, La., after Katrina points to a new, more fluid way to organize relief operations.