Defense

Coast Guard says icebreakers key To U.S. future in Arctic

Area has seen increasingly intense international competition for territorial rights and resources.

Defense

Competition heats up for Air Force refueling tanker deal

Companies make a final push as decision on the $40 billion contract approaches.

Defense

Pentagon task force urges 'modest' rise in TRICARE fees

Increase would be phased in over four years and then indexed to inflation.

Oversight

Current federal spending track called 'unsustainable'

Congressional Budget Office says massive increases in projected health care costs hurt long-range outlook.

Defense

Marine Corps commandant says Christmas Eve layoff notices possible

Gen. James Conway says civilian layoffs due to budget shortfalls could come March 24, and labor unions must be given 90 days notice.

Defense

Army chief says troops strained, calls pace 'unsustainable'

Gen. George Casey says fight between Congress and the White House over the supplemental funding for Iraq and Afghanistan makes his job more difficult.

Oversight

TSA chief denies screeners tipped to security testing

Administrator testifies that e-mail mentioning testing did not violate integrity or tip off employees.

Defense

Budget office reports war costs could reach $2.4 trillion by 2017

Hearing witnesses and some lawmakers criticize the use of emergency supplementals rather than the normal budget process to pay for the wars.

Defense

Naval forces outline new national maritime strategy

Forward-looking document addresses politically sensitive issues, such as global warming and the emerging dispute over access to the previously ice-bound Arctic seas.

Defense

House panel weighs need to account for nuclear material

Lawmaker has unveiled legislation to assist the government in creating a data bank that would make it easier to trace the origins of such material.

Defense

Panelists cite threats to U.S. computer networks

Air Force official aims to establish cybersecurity units in every state within a year.

Defense

Lawmakers deplore 'frightening' state of Army readiness

Service officials urge lawmakers to ensure that continuing resolution has enough money to support the Army's current operations and procurement needs.

Defense

Air Force secretary says service needs $20 billion more a year

Service also would like to retire some of its oldest aircraft, which are becoming increasingly expensive to maintain.

Defense

Panel backs restoration of funds for Coast Guard upgrade

Homeland Security Committee votes to bring the Deepwater procurement authorization up to fiscal 2007 levels.

Defense

Lawmakers appalled by scale of contract fraud in Iraq

Defense officials say inadequate staff levels, training, controls and leadership are to blame.

Defense

Aerospace team urges tanker performance over content

American-European team says its aircraft would have 58-60 percent "domestic content," which would meet the "Buy America" requirements of at least 50 percent.

Defense

Minus provisions on Iraq forces, panel passes Defense bill

Measure contains a 3.5 percent pay raise for military members, a level half a percent higher than President Bush’s request.

Defense

Republicans challenge GAO assessment of Iraq progress

Criticism sets the stage for what the GOP hopes will be a more favorable report from Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker.

Defense

Frustrations raised over delays in frequent traveler program

Transportation Security Administration chief says the agency supports the program, but has to focus on other priorities.

Defense

Rumsfeld faces House oversight panel on Tillman death

Hearing witnesses say there was no attempt at a cover-up, but acknowledge the Army failed to follow rules in informing family of circumstances.