Defense

Los Alamos scientists develop new method to detect smuggled nukes

New approach has advantages over detectors now deployed at U.S. borders, which use either X-rays or gamma rays.

Defense

Student visitor screening process improvements cut clearance time

State Department's Visa Mantis program reduces waiting time from 67 days in 2003 to 15 in 2004.

Defense

DHS favors easing deadline on state security funds

Investigations found local communities had not received or spent the nearly $14 billion in federal funding allocated for counterterrorism activities.

Defense

National critical infrastructure plan nears completion

But members of information-sharing councils cite worsening relations between industry and Homeland Security Department.

Defense

Boeing CFO gets four-month jail sentence

Michael Sears also fined $250,000 for illegally negotiating a job for a top Air Force official at the nation’s second-largest defense contractor.

Defense

Sexual assaults continue among service members abroad

The Miles Foundation says it has received 307 reports from among members of the military.

Defense

Unions ready to give new homeland security chief an earful

Union officials hope Michael Chertoff allows them to share their concerns about issues ranging from new personnel regulations to problems protecting the borders.

Defense

Former Boeing CFO might face prison in procurement scandal

Prosecutors argue alternatives to imprisonment would do little to deter "such illegal conduct in the future by companies and their senior management."

Defense

Critics say some military spending items don't belong in emergency bill

Spending requests detailed in 82-page document on the Pentagon's $74.9 billion portion of the supplemental request.

Defense

Veteran diplomat Negroponte tapped for top intelligence slot

President says new director “will make the decisions” on intelligence budget.

Defense

Forward Observer: Lost at Sea

The debut of a biweekly column by veteran defense writer George C. Wilson.

Defense

Homeland Security bureau needs extra $300 million to get through year

Outgoing deputy secretary opposes merging Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection bureaus.

Defense

New homeland security secretary praises department's employees

Michael Chertoff says he wants to hear from them about how to make the department better.

Defense

Rumsfeld defends supplemental, proposed program cuts

Lawmaker questions use of supplemental to fund recurring expenses of Iraq war.

Defense

House GOP may balk at some provisions in supplemental

Foreign aid items in war supplemental could draw ire from legislators.

Defense

Energy secretary defends request for nuclear 'bunker buster' study

Samuel Bodman says plan is "merely a matter of trying to respond to what we perceive to be the wishes of this Congress."

Defense

Senate confirms Chertoff to head Homeland Security

Despite brief delay in scheduling of vote, nomineee is approved unanimously, 98-0.