Business
VA Inspector General Says Wait Lists Are a ‘Systemic Problem'
The IG report confirms that 1,700 veterans waited at least 115 days for care at the VA hospital in Phoenix as the investigation widens to 46 facilities. By Sarah Mimms
Business
Are Paychecks the Problem? Senate Considers Bonuses for Pentagon’s Cyber Workforce
The private sector is eating the Pentagon’s lunch when it comes to skilled workers. A Senate panel wants to know if bonuses and incentives will make a difference. By Aliya Sternstein
Business
The Pentagon and Congress Must Stop Raiding the Afghan War Fund
New legislation just passed the House that prevents Congress and the Pentagon from using war funds to pay for things that have nothing to do with war. By William D. Hartung
Threats
Obama Wants All U.S. Troops Out of Afghanistan by 2017
President Obama wants to keep 9,800 troops in Afghanistan next year, then shrink to a ‘normal embassy presence’ by 2017. By Stephanie Gaskell
Policy
Keep Him! VA Problems Not On Shinseki, Says Sanders
What VA Secretary Shinseki has done to improve the agency outweighs the hospital scandal that deserves larger context, Sanders argues. By Kevin Baron
Policy
House Passes Troop Pay Raise, Rejects TRICARE Reform and BRAC
The House’s version of the 2015 defense authorization bill shares little in common with Obama’s version and includes $45 billion more in spending. By Kellie Lunney
Business
Pure Home-State Politics Behind Russian Helicopter Opposition
Pressure is building to halt a Pentagon deal with a Russian state arms dealer to supply aircraft for the Afghan Air Force. By Billy House
Business
Why No One Is Buying the Air Force’s Argument To Ditch the A-10
Lawmakers want assurances that getting rid of the aircraft won’t leave soldiers vulnerable. So far, the Air Force is just not getting that message across. By Janine Davidson
Policy
Why Is Shinseki Refusing More Authority To Fire VA Employees?
Under pressure to clean house, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki says a House bill that gives him more power to fire bad employees goes too far. By Stephanie Gaskell
Business
Is Obama to Blame for Failures at the VA?
Obama, Bush, Congress, and presidents going back to JFK all bear some of the responsibility. By Jordain Carney and Stacy Kaper
Policy
House to Vote on 1.8 Percent Military Pay Hike This Week
The House begins taking up the National Defense Authorization Act on Tuesday, including a measure to increase troop pay by nearly twice the president’s request. By Kellie Lunney
Business
Top VA Official Resigns Ahead of Schedule in Wait List Scandal
Robert Petzel, the VA's undersecretary for health, had already planned to retire this year. By Bob Brewin
Business
Why Obama Is Just the Latest President Unable to Fix the VA
Wars, technology, and red tape trump campaign promises when it comes to VA trouble. By Jordain Carney and Stacy Kaper
Policy
Shinseki Won’t Resign, Vows To Stop VA’s ‘Secret Wait Lists’
Embattled VA Secretary Eric Shinseki squared off with senators and reporters Thursday. By Stephanie Gaskell
Business
What To Expect at the Senate Hearing on VA Wait Lists
Tough questions and allegations of poor management await VA Secretary Eric Shinseki in the wake of his department’s waiting list scandal. By Charles S. Clark
Business
Pentagon Gets New Acting Chief Information Officer
Terry Halvorsen moves up from the Navy's top IT spot to fill the vacancy created by Teri Takai's departure in early May. By Katherine McIntire Peters
Business
Senators Warn Pentagon To Be Ready for Full Audit in 2017
The Defense Department is under pressure to meet a Sept. 30 deadline to produce a budgetary 'activity' statement ahead of a full audit. By Charles S. Clark
Ideas
Dempsey Wants to ‘Rebalance the Use of Military Power'
The U.S. military needs to do less foreign fighting and more foreign training, says Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey in an exclusive interview. By James Kitfield
Business
Phoenix VA Spent 10 Years Installing an Electronic Wait List
Transitioning patient care from a paper-based system to electronic wait lists 'was not handled well,' according to a former VA official. By Bob Brewin
Business