DoD News 
Top News
- IRS to pay $70M in bonuses, Grassley says
- Small companies won't feel effect of lowered contractor pay cap
- Senators push Tangherlini for assurances GSA is improving
- As VA works to eliminate one backlog, one more might emerge
- BRAC-like commission proposed to hunt down government cost savings
- Sequestration claims another conference: DHS's GFirst cyber event
- Postal Service closing Capitol Hill post offices in 'symbolic' move
- Senators seek cost cuts for F-35 fighter jet
- Fed pens new furlough song
- Web guru Dorris brings new life to government websites
- EPA CIO Jackson returning to private sector
- Navy strikes enterprise licensing deal with Oracle
- Contractors with security clearances lack path to report problems
- NSA leak case gives vendors reason to reevaluate personnel
- 8 contract executives guilty of 8(a) contracting fraud
- Whistleblower suit leads to $12M false claims settlement by SAIC
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
Senate panel to vote Tuesday on Hagel nomination
Senate committee to vote Tuesday on Hagel nomination as Dem chairman rejects GOP demands
Senator vows to delay Obama's nominees over Libya
Sen. Graham threatens to delay Obama's nominees for defense, CIA because of Libya attack
Air Force study to focus on 'game-changing' technology
Dr. Mark Maybury, the Air Force's chief scientist, discusses a wide-ranging study of potential future "game changers" and best practices in each of the service's core mission areas.
Obama warns about Sequester
President Barack Obama draconian government spending cuts that will go into effect on March 1 unless Congress stops them, could have a "severe impact" on U.S. military preparedness. "There is no reason, no reason for that to happen," Obama said. He made the remarks at a farewell ceremony for outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. "Putting our fiscal house in order calls for a balanced approach, not massive indiscriminate cuts that could have a severe impact on our military preparedness," he said.
In Philly, business booms where battleships born
In Philly, business booms where battleships were once born; 10,000 work at old naval shipyard
Obama salutes Panetta as he prepares to retire
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said farewell to the U.S. military Friday, capping a venerated public service career that spanned four decades calling it "the honor of my life."
Air Force: Sequestration already creating 'chronic inefficiency'
The Air Force's long-range planning and modernization takes back seat to preparations for near-term crises, including contingency plans to scale back civilian workforce. Civilian furloughs would be "breach of faith," Air Force says.
Federal Drive Interviews -- Feb. 8, 2013
Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue and Linda Cureton of NASA talks about their upcoming retirements. Register employee benefit consultant Ed Zurndorfer explains what feds can expect from possible furloughs. White House Historical Association Vice President of Research talks about possible renovations at the White House.
Army to study brain stimulator for TBI patients
Television personality Montel Williams is joining Army scientists at Fort Detrick in a medical research deal.
DISA promises fixes to overwhelmed online conferencing system
Cancellations of in-person meetings press DoD's Web conferencing system past its limits. The Defense Information Systems Agency will complete upgrades by Feb. 15.
Panetta says US at risk of being second-rate power
Defense secretary warns military readiness crisis coming if automatic budget cuts are allowed
