DoD News 
Top News
- OMB reworking financial systems to focus on outcomes, not inputs
- Lew taps government retiree pension fund to avoid default
- OMB taps VanRoekel to lead management team
- PHOTOS: Meet the 2013 Service to America Medal Finalists
- Hagel: Accountability breakdown was leading factor in sexual assaults
- Former IRS commissioner faces questions about Tea Party
- SBA starting new lending program for veterans
- New Apple devices cleared to join DoD IT networks
- Army prioritizes access to data in fight over intelligence IT system
- DoD upends slow approval process for mobile devices
- Senior execs' bonuses under fire at agencies
- Gould moves the needle on many of VA's toughest challenges
- Tuesday federal headlines - May 21, 2013
Navy's ship IT modernization program faces budget-related delays
The fledgling effort to replace IT systems aboard 193 Navy ships, called CANES, will take longer than expected. With or without sequestration, the Navy expects eight installations scheduled for 2013 to be interrupted.
Sequestration no longer unthinkable, former Pentagon insider says
With sequestration set to go into effect in fewer than two weeks, many in the Defense Department are concerned the looming cuts are likely and will have a devastating effect on military readiness. Former Deputy Defense Secretary Bill Lynn, now the CEO of DRS Technologies, told Pentagon Solutions with Francis Rose the cuts will have a long-lasting impact on Pentagon planning.
Younger vets still struggle as jobs scene improves
For younger vets, getting home often trumps job considerations
Hagel's GOP foes signal vote should go on
Hagel's GOP opponents say vote on his Pentagon nomination should go ahead despite concerns
Federal Drive Interviews -- Feb. 19, 2013
GAO's Mark Gaffigan talks about how the federal government will experience increased fiscal exposure due to climate change. Gary Somerset discusses the GPO's new Pinterest page. On Legal Loop, procurement attorney Joe Petrillo discusses a change in status for the Alaska Native Corporations. John Plaguta of the Partnership for Public Service discusses the critical skills gaps in the federal workplace. Former SEC Chairman Harvey Pitt talks about rule writing in the wake of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
Federal Drive Interviews -- Feb. 18, 2013
Gordon Heddel of Booz Allen Hamilton talks about the challenges of creating a smarter but not bigger government. Aaron Miller of the Wilson Center discusses the hurdles awaiting new Secretary of State John Kerry. Bloomberg Government's Rob Barnett talks about President Obama's environmental policy. John Mahoney of Tully Rinckey says furloughed feds won't lose their rights.
Navy finds billions of dollars in under-the-radar IT expenses
As the Navy scours its IT systems to determine exactly what it owns, it's discovered it operates double the data centers and tens of thousands of servers and applications more than it previously thought. The findings come more than a decade after the Navy implemented its Navy-Marine Corps Intranet, which was supposed to reduce the number of disparate systems run by the agency and eliminate stovepipes. All told, Navy's IT budget could be as much as $4 billion more than it initially thought.
Budget cut impact: Smaller Navy, fired teachers
A glance at how administration says automatic budget cuts would diminish government services
Hagel stalled, but confirmation still expected
Republicans stall Hagel vote, drawing White House ire, but confirmation still likely
Women go into battle in Afghanistan
The Afghan army is breaking new ground. It's training female special forces to take part in night raids against insurgents. Night raids have long been a divisive issue between Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who doesn't want foreign troops entering Afghan homes, and the U.S.-led coalition that says the raids are essential to capturing Taliban commanders.
DHS, DoD among agencies making slow, steady progress to get off High Risk list
GAO adds two new areas to the list, NOAA's satellite programs and the federal government's financial risk because of climate change. Comptroller General Gene Dodaro said nearly every initiative on the list made progress in fixing their problems over the last two years.
Senate GOP blocks Hagel vote for now
Senate GOP blocks vote on Hagel nomination as defense secretary, new vote after week's recess
Hagel Moves On
Former Senator Chuck Hagel has been approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee to be the nation's defense secretary. His nomination has been sent to the full Senate where the Democrats, hold a 55-45 edge. More than a dozen Republicans oppose the nomination, and the committee's ranking Republican, Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, is insisting that any confirmation be based on 60 votes rather than a majority of the Senate.
Federal Drive Interviews -- Feb. 13, 2013
Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) talks about his plans as the new chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Greg Kutz of TIGTA discusses new progress being made by the IRS in recruitment and hiring. Jennifer Martinez, staff writer at The Hill newspaper, discusses the new Executive Order on cybersecurity. Don Kettl of the University of Maryland's School of Public Policy offers insight on the State of the Union speech.
Military issues dire warnings of readiness crisis, decries political gridlock
Among the warnings the military's top uniformed officers delivered to the Senate Tuesday: Half of Marine Corps units will fall below readiness standards by the end of the year, the Army will have to curtail training for 80 percent of its ground forces and shipyards are already becoming short-staffed because of DoD's hiring freeze.
Senate panel approves Hagel for Pentagon chief
Divided Senate panel approves Obama nomination of Chuck Hagel to be defense secretary
White House issues cyber order, giving NIST, DHS lead roles
Senior administration officials say the Executive Order is not a replacement for comprehensive cybersecurity legislation, but the start of a new conversation for how best to protect the nation's critical infrastructure. NIST released an RFI Tuesday as part of its effort to create a voluntary, flexible framework. And DHS will expand the number of companies the government shares classified and unclassified cyber threat information with through the Defense Industrial Base pilot.
Diallo dies in a plane crash
The head of Guinea's armed forces, was killed on Monday in a plane crash near the Liberian capital Monrovia. Investigators and United Nations peacekeepers found the wreckage in a grove of palm trees near Charlesville, about 25 miles southeast of the Liberian capital Monrovia. There were no survivors. General Souleymane Kelefa Diallo, who was on a security mission to Liberia.
Military weighs cutbacks, shifts in drone programs
Military weighs cutbacks, shifts in drone programs to save money, face evolving threats
Military benefits extended to same-sex partners
Pentagon extends benefits to same-sex partners of service members; not healthcare, housing
