Defense One
Pentagon Outlines Stronger Military Presence in the Arctic
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the Pentagon’s new Arctic Strategy will significantly increase U.S. military resources and attention to the polar region. By Kevin Baron
Management
Expect Sequestration to Hit Much Harder in 2014, Report Says
One-time fixes that lessened the blow in 2013 are no longer available.
Pay & Benefits
Bill Would Give Blue Collar Feds an Across-the-Board Pay Raise, Too
Legislation is necessary to give hourly workers the same annual COLA bump as salaried employees.
Defense One
USAID: Aid Groups Also Stuck Waiting for Afghan Troop Agreement
USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah says the global aid community that’s so tied to the U.S. military also is eyeing the loya jirga. By Kevin Baron
Nextgov
Hackers Crack GitHub, Release a Treaty and Listen In On MacRumors
Just another week in ThreatWatch, our regularly updated index of noteworthy data breaches.
Defense One
Just the Beginning: Afghanistan Troop Deal Prelude to Another Half Decade of War
This is not the end. After the security agreement, U.S. involvement in Afghanistan’s conflict is far from over. By Anthony H. Cordesman
Oversight
Soon, President Obama Will Pardon a Thanksgiving Turkey. Then, It Will Die.
Turkeys are not bred for living, but for eating.
Oversight
In the Aftermath of a Post-Nuclear Senate, Everyone’s Dug in Deeper
Executive branch and most judicial nominees can now be confirmed with a simple, 51-vote majority.
Oversight
Hearing on Response to Park Closures During the Shutdown Less Than Idyllic
Discussion devolves into attacks on President Obama.
Oversight
Play of the Day: Senate Go Boom, Nuclear Edition
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid detonates the nuclear option in the Senate.
Defense One
Inside the Secret Interior of the Navy’s First Stealth Destroyer
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel climbed aboard the Navy’s first stealth destroyer, the Zumwalt, at Maine’s Bath Iron Works.
News
GAO: One of the Best Places to Work in D.C.?
The agency has made one publication’s list two times in three years.
Pay & Benefits
White House Presses for TRICARE Fee Increases
Congress so far has rejected the Obama administration’s attempts to rein in the costs of the military’s health care program.
Oversight
Senate Votes to Overrule Filibusters of Executive Branch Appointees
From now on, nominees can be approved by a simple, 51-vote majority.
Pay & Benefits
Budget Office: Next Debt Ceiling D-Day Could Come in March
The government will exhaust its emergency borrowing authority between March and June 2014 if Congress does not act, report estimates.
Nextgov
How to Precognize a Snowden
Since psych evaluations violate privacy rules, the FBI might turn to a whole new science.
Pay & Benefits
Lawmakers Want Feds to Have Socially Responsible Retirement Investment Options
Bill could conflict with TSP’s mission.
Defense