Defense

Audits rap TSA for spending, ethics, performance lapses

Homeland Security IG issues three reports criticizing crisis management center and passenger and baggage screening.

Defense

Base-closing panel sets first meeting

Base Realignment and Closure Commission will kick off May 3.

Defense

Defense contractors want in on manufacturing tax break

Companies insist Congress intended tax cut enacted last fall to apply to all U.S. manufacturing, including defense contracts.

Defense

Deputy Defense nominee fields questions over shipbuilding, acquisition

Navy Secretary Gordon England vows to fix the department's acquisition mechanism.

Defense

Senate signals unhappiness with war supplementals

Senators approve non-binding resolution urging that war funds be included in regular annual budget submissions.

Defense

Pentagon to participate in international plague vaccine effort

United States will work with Canada and United Kingdom on project.

Defense

Senators aim to derail Pentagon plans to scrap C-130J

An amendment to the emergency defense spending bill would prohibit funds from being spent to terminate the $4.1 billion contract for the aircraft.

Defense

Robotic spacecraft mission cut short

Apparent fuel shortage causes craft to shut down after rendezvous with military satellite.

Defense

Border Patrol agents in Arizona face increased confrontations

Top agent says rise in assaults attributed to attempts to shut down drug runners and smugglers of illegal immigrants.

Defense

New terrorism response plan takes effect

New National Response Plan and closely related National Incident Management System replace a patchwork of existing documents.

Defense

Report highlights challenges facing new national intelligence director

Congressional Research Service notes concerns about ambiguities in law, especially relationship between DNI and Defense secretary.

Defense

GAO says problems justify rebidding C-130 contract

Watchdog agency says award was tainted because Darleen Druyun, formerly the Air Force's second-ranking acquisition official, was biased in favor of Boeing.

Defense

Homeland Security 'moving rapidly' to fill high-level vacancies, chief says

Secretary Michael Chertoff outlines personnel-related actions designed to bind department together as a “unitary organism.”

Defense

Pentagon plans to consolidate forces in Europe take shape

Troop levels would be cut from 62,000 to 24,000 in the next five to 10 years.

Defense

GAO, Pentagon at odds over management

Watchdog agency pushes for chief management officer; Defense officials demur.

Defense

Air Force tells senator it will alter C-130J contract

Modifications will ensure contract complies with traditional military procurement rules.