Defense

Water main break at new Walter Reed leaves three clinics ‘unusable’

The Warrior clinic was among the areas flooded by one to two inches of water on the same day President Obama visited wounded troops at the center.

Defense

Firm eyes lawsuit over theft of TRICARE patient data

Class action would focus on TRICARE's decision not to provide free credit and identity theft-monitoring services.

Tech

LightSquared threatens legal action if FCC blocks network operation

The company maintains filtering technology can be applied to prevent interference with GPS signals.

Defense

SAIC: Medical records for 4.9 million TRICARE beneficiaries were stolen

According to police report, computer backup tapes had been left in an employee’s parked car.

Defense

Military continues off-label drug use, despite concerns

Defense Department's inability to track prescriptions compounds the difficulty of measuring adverse medical effects.

Defense

New satellite could revolutionize battlefield communications

Experimental TacSat-4 will enable first-ever on-the-move communications from handheld and backpack military radios.

News

Lawmakers urge Army to use consumer batteries on the battlefield

The Senate Appropriations Committee directed the service to report on the feasibility of putting AA and AAA batteries in combat radios and other devices.

News

GOP claims White House interference in LightSquared's broadband plan

Company wants to build a national cellular network; opponents say it will interfere with GPS receivers.

Defense

Senate appropriators take a dim view of Pentagon satellite lease plans

Panel says Defense Information Systems Agency did not factor troop drawdowns into its cost analysis.

News

Contractor protest derails work on Army ground combat vehicle

One bid for the new 60-ton armored personnel carrier would use hybrid-electric drive technology.

News

VA awards new contract for debunked PTSD drug

Research has shown risperidone is no more effective than a placebo.

News

From Nextgov: VA spent $717 million on a drug deemed as effective as a placebo

Studies raise questions about widespread use and high cost of anti-psychotic drugs to treat post-traumatic stress disorder.

Defense

From Nextgov: VA promotes social media use with new policy

Department wants to give veterans the opportunity to communicate directly with its employees.

Defense

From Nextgov: VA adds tablet computers to massive technology buy

The purchase will mark the first large-scale procurement of tablets in the federal government.

Tech

From Nextgov: Large solar flare likely disrupted radio systems in the Mideast

That and a separate event that forced officials to reroute commercial flights foreshadow future problems, scientist says.

Oversight

From Nextgov: Defense panel backs controversial drug treatments, but can't track impact

Military Health System computers don't flag adverse reactions or potential abuse .

Defense

Under debt deal, military pay, veterans programs in play for cuts

Officers and veterans groups are concerned nothing -- including health care and education benefits -- will be immune from the belt tightening.

Tech

From Nextgov: Leaked FAA report adds fuel to debate over LightSquared broadband network

Document says the project could knock out GPS for aviation use across the continental U.S., but company argues that assessment is based on outdated information.

Defense

From Nextgov: VA will allow iPhones and iPads to connect to its network this fall

The department will not require the use of federal wireless encryption standards.

News

From Nextgov: VA to expand health data exchange in September

Program allowing Defense, VA and private sector providers to share information will be tested in 11 regions , up from five.