Defense

Update on Iraq contracting problems alarms lawmakers

Issues include poor requirements, inadequate competition and insufficient oversight.

Defense

House panel rejects bid to restore future combat program funding

Subcommittee leader reiterates argument that panel must give higher priority to near-term needs.

Defense

House lawmaker to seek reports on Iraq operations

Chairman of Armed Services panel will stop short of asking for a troop pullout in authorization bill, in an effort to avoid divisions.

Defense

Lawmaker seeks to avoid division over Defense bill

Authorization measure in danger of getting caught in fights over the Iraq war and over missile defense and modernization program cuts.

Defense

House panels trim missile defense, exceed personnel requests

Subcommittee rejects administration attempt to increase fees for military retirees’ health care.

Defense

Panels give special ops, Navy more procurement funding

Subcommittee unanimously approves the addition of funds to build two extra ships and to start work toward building two nuclear attack submarines a year by 2010.

Defense

Lawmaker abandons bid to fatten Littoral Combat Ship budget

Shipbuilding advocate is still aiming to add three other ships to the Navy’s budget request, marking an unusually large increase.

Defense

House panel cuts $867 million from future combat program

Reduction is equivalent to roughly 25 percent of the Pentagon's request for the program and is far larger than previous congressional cuts.

Defense

Authorization bill’s fate hinges on Dems' next step on Iraq

Authorizers must decide if their bill is worth losing to keep the pressure on President Bush to reverse his Iraq policy.

Defense

Air Force seeks to recover funds diverted to Army

Service needs the money back to cover payroll and other personnel costs.

Defense

Pentagon prevents military officers from testifying before House panel

Mid-level officers blocked from speaking at closed-door House briefing about efforts to train and organize Iraqi security forces.

News

Bush military expansion may cost $108 billion over seven years

Hefty sum is roughly $4 billion lower than the Pentagon's own estimate.

Defense

Marines deploying Osprey aircraft overseas for first time

Critics say fundamental design and reliability flaws have yet to be resolved, argue use in combat would be premature.

Defense

Air Force, Navy funds may be needed to cover Army costs

Defense secretary reiterates concerns that failure to approve supplemental wartime spending bill in next few weeks will damage readiness.

Defense

Defense proposes giving Guard chief 'senior advisor' role

Document makes clear the Pentagon will continue to reject efforts to elevate the Guard leader to a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Defense

Guard chief touts unit readiness but acknowledges stress

Ongoing deployments would make equipment problems at home worse, chief says.

Defense

Lawmaker seeks to set up Defense-industry procurement board

Panel would find ways to identify critical shortfalls in military equipment and streamline the purchase of needed gear.

News

Alarms over detainees fail to stir Fort Leavenworth

Army base is home to the military's only domestic maximum-security prison, making it a potential relocation spot if Guantanamo facility is closed.

Defense

Army Guard units face shortage of gear

Missing equipment hinders training exercises and impedes the Guard's ability to respond rapidly to domestic disasters, chief says.

Defense

Senator weighs need for more long-range transport planes

Hawaii Democrat sees the benefit of a larger fleet, but doesn’t want it to come at the expense of domestic programs.