Policy

Shutdown Creates Training ‘Gap’ for Afghanistan-Bound Troops

Commanders halt training for National Guard units deploying to Afghanistan next year, amid shutdown's pay freeze. By Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

Policy

Obama Signs Bill to Reinstate Troop Death Benefits During the Shutdown

President Obama signed the bill Thursday after the Fisher House Foundation offered to pay death benefits to families of fallen troops during the shutdown. By Stephanie Gaskell

Policy

House Republicans Accuse the Pentagon of Shutdown ‘Politics’

Pentagon Comptroller Bob Hale was berated by House Armed Services Committee members who accused the administration of using furloughs ‘for political purposes.’ By Stephanie Gaskell

Business

Ash Carter to Retire

Ash Carter, deputy defense secretary and the Pentagon’s top budget man, will retire on Dec. 4. By Kevin Baron

Policy

Fisher House Rescues DoD on Death Benefits During Shutdown

The Fisher House Foundation will pay death benefits to families of fallen troops and get reimbursed by the Pentagon once the shutdown is over. By Stephanie Gaskell

Policy

Obama Expects Troop Death Benefits Fix ‘Today’

The public outrage over the shutdown halting ‘death gratuity’ payments to the families of fallen soldiers has reached the White House -- President Obama says he expects a fix today. By Stephanie Gaskell

Business

Shutdown Could Crimp Pentagon Training and Confuse Contractors

Lack of funding will disrupt operations and impact the national security supply chain, a new report says. By Charles S. Clark

Business

House OKs Bill To Pay Federal Workers On Time During Shutdown

The House unanimously approves legislation to pay federal employees who are working during the shutdown on time, but the White House says it will veto it. By Eric Katz

Science & Tech

Electrical Explosions Cause Construction Delays at NSA's $1.2 Billion Spy Compound

Persistent electrical surges apparently sparked explosions and a year-long delay that NSA officials did not disclose. By Aliya Sternstein

Business

House Scrambles to Reinstate Troop Death Benefits During Shutdown

The House Appropriations Committee is drafting a bill that will let Congress pay death benefits to families of troops killed in action during the shutdown. By Stephanie Gaskell

Business

5 Takeaways from the U.S. Special Ops Raids in Somalia and Libya

Two surprise operations illuminate America’s shadow war against terrorists and reveal important elements of Washington’s evolving counterterrorism strategy. By James Kitfield

Business

Senate Still Hasn't Voted on Bill That Gives Back Pay to Furloughed Workers

Several Republicans want to be able to attach amendments to a bill that would pay furloughed workers retroactively after the shutdown ends. By Kellie Lunney

Business

Hagel Names Special Envoy to Close Guantanamo

The Defense Department appointed Paul Lewis, former HASC general counsel, to help close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. By Stephanie Gaskell

Business

DoD Acquisitions Staff Are Back to Work, They Just Can't Buy Anything

If the shutdown lasts, acquisition and contract employees face being furloughed again because they don't have any money to buy anything. By Bob Brewin

Business

Shutdown Shame: Denying Troop Death Benefits

The families of U.S. troops killed in combat during the shutdown will have to wait for an end to Washington’s gridlock to get emergency death benefits. By Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

Business

Why the Pentagon's CIOs Remain Furloughed

Defense Department lawyers say the Pay Our Military Act doesn't cover the Pentagon's civilian information officers and their staffs. By Bob Brewin

Business

Hagel Orders Most Furloughed Civilian Employees Back to Work

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is putting most of the 400,000 furloughed civilian defense employees back to work despite the shutdown. By Stephanie Gaskell

Business

House OKs Retroactive Pay for Furloughed Workers

The House voted unanimously on Saturday to retroactively pay furloughed civilian workers. By Kellie Lunney

Business

Defense Industry Warns of Furloughs If Shutdown Continues

The Aerospace Industries Association is warning Congress to end the shutdown or face private-sector furloughs across the defense industry. By Charles S. Clark

Business

New Bill Would Pay Furloughed Workers Retroactively

A new bill to pay furloughed civilian workers retroactively once the shutdown ends has bipartisan support in Congress and the White House 'strongly supports' it. By Eric Katz