Defense

Feds might pay National Guard homeland security costs

The fiscal 2005 defense authorization bill may include a provision that would allow governors to deploy the National Guard for state emergencies and bill the federal government.

Defense

House presses for DHS management, procurement overhaul

House chairmen push for organizational change and plan to send a letter calling for a reduction in red tape in procurement processes.

Defense

DHS remains committed to contested passenger-screening program

Despite public outcry over recent data-sharing flaps, the government plans to issue a directive this summer requiring airlines to turn over passenger records.

Tech

Database firm rejects TSA's pre-screening approach

ChoicePoint CEO Derek Smith says the airline passenger pre-screening system in development is too much like the controversial Terrorism Information Awareness data-mining project.

Defense

Energy Department moves to boost security at nuclear labs

Plan includes the possibility of federalizing security forces and creating a specialized unit to guard facilities.

Defense

Agencies set security plan for high-profile events

An interagency working group grapples with how to handle events ranging from the dedication of the World War II memorial to the national political conventions.

Defense

Air Force tanker controversy prompts changes, probes

Pentagon officials are mulling a decision about whether to proceed with the $23.5 billion plan to acquire 100 Boeing 767 refueling tankers.

Defense

Senate Defense bill likely to follow Bush plan

The bottom line will be close to the $401.7 billion the Bush administration requested, senators say.

Defense

Following the money on Iraq, homeland security not easy

The Bush administration has a great deal of discretion in spending war funds, and "homeland security" remains ill-defined.

Defense

House weighs homeland security management shakeup

House lawmakers question the Homeland Security Department’s deputy secretary on everything from management challenges to a lack of communication.

Defense

Lawmakers lash out at security clearance backlog

House lawmakers demand action to reduce backlog of 188,000 contractor clearance requests at the Pentagon.

Defense

House panel votes for two-year delay of base closings

One lawmaker warns, however, that pushing back the schedule could result in a more aggressive round of closures.

Defense

Military unlikely to win environmental exemption

A House subcommittee chairman says he has no plans to move a measure exempting Defense agencies from environmental laws this year.

Defense

Administration to request $25 billion military supplemental

GOP leaders predict strong support for a stopgap spending measure to fund operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Defense

OPM puts security clearance merger plans on ice

Agency postpones absorbing Defense unit, a move that may have speeded up the security clearance process at the Pentagon.

Defense

Senate panel backs 3.5 percent military pay raise

Subcommittee also votes to implement a health care program for Guard and Reserve troops.

Defense

Lawmakers unveil $4 billion plan to increase military

Members of the House Armed Services Committee estimate that increasing the size of the military will cost $4 billion per year, but would relieve overextended Guard and Reserve soldiers.

Defense

U.S. wants to place immigration inspectors at foreign airports

The Homeland Security Department will put inspection teams at foreign airports to identify possible terrorists and immigration violators before they board planes coming to the United States.

Defense

Democrats propose plan to boost biological defenses

Arguing that the Bush administration's Project Bioshield doesn't go far enough, they seek to speed development of drugs that counter biological agents.