Defense
From Nextgov.com: Hill: Regulatory groups fail to protect power grid from cyberattacks
Federal regulatory commission says it needs more authority to force plants to tighten security for computer networks.
Defense
Coast Guard maritime casualty investigations hindered by poor management, IG finds
Service releases five-year plan to improve safety, but more resources are needed.
Defense
Senate OKs war supplemental bill with veterans' benefits
Package includes a provision that would essentially provide a four-year scholarship to any public university to veterans who have served since Sept. 11, 2001.
Defense
Panel praises Petraeus during nomination hearing
General said the number of violent incidents in Iraq last week was the lowest in four years.
Defense
Report: Defense Department cannot fully account for $7.8B spent in Iraq
Inspector general concludes funds were spent without appropriate documentation; office reconciling Iraqi payments has been moved from Kuwait to Rome, N.Y.
Defense
From Nextgov.com: Committee pulls purse strings to nudge services toward unified command-and-control systems
House Armed Services report also targets Future Combat Systems delays and IT staff shortage.
Defense
GAO: Post-government employment of Defense contracting officials could pose conflict of interest
The Pentagon is not required to monitor former officials when they begin jobs with defense contractors.
Defense
Advocates question ICE workplace raids' effect on kids
Immigration enforcement agency recently arrested hundreds of workers at an Iowa plant, 12 of whom were between the ages of 15 and 17.
Defense
Defense secretary: Navy, Air Force may need to subsidize Army soon
The Army's dwindling funds could affect service members' pay, training and family support activities.
Defense
Homeland Security Department provides $844 million in critical infrastructure protection grants
Grant funding for port, transit security increased by 29 percent in this fiscal year.
Defense
From Nextgov.com: Cost of cybersecurity initiative is triple its first estimate, panel reports
The development of the National Cybersecurity Initiative also is too secretive, removing a deterrence to attack U.S. networks, Senate committee charges.
Defense
FAA urged to open domestic skies to unmanned aerial vehicles
A new report from the Government Accountability Office urges Congress to create an office inside FAA to coordinate federal UAV planning.
Defense
Pentagon policy bill touts readiness, but defers tough weapons decisions
House Armed Services Committee did not aggressively reorder the Pentagon's budget priorities, nor did it scale back major defense procurement programs.
Oversight
From Nextgov.com: Cyber criminals overseas steal U.S electronic health records
Identity theft crime wave could imperil patient safety and cost Medicare millions of dollars .
Defense
Key Dems seek to withhold funding for DHS satellite office
Lawmakers remain "extremely concerned" about agency plan to open office that would coordinate how federal, state and local officials access satellite technology.
Defense
White House threatening to veto war supplemental bill
Amendments include a non-binding requirement for troop withdrawal from Iraq and an increase in veterans' education benefits.
Defense
Intelligence community to launch pay for performance system
Employees in 10 of the 16 intelligence agencies will be evaluated and compensated based on their job performance during the next year.
Defense
Legislative amendment would suspend competitive sourcing at Defense
Provision added to authorization bill during markup puts three-year cap on A-76 competitions.
Defense
House Armed Services panel approves $712 billion defense package
Measure includes 3.9 percent military pay raise, half a pecentage point higher than President Bush had requested.
Defense