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

Policy

Congress Slams Obama for Cutting Aid to Egypt

Even Democrats say the president should have consulted lawmakers outside his inner circle before making a unilateral change to foreign policy. By Sara Sorcher

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

Vietnam Signs Nuclear Deal With the U.S.

The deal includes an agreement by Vietnam to not reprocess spent nuclear fuel and enrich uranium. By Global Security Newswire

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

U.S. Has Already Defaulted – On Its Promise to the Troops

Congress and the White House continue to argue over the debt ceiling, but they’ve already defaulted on their obligations to the military. By Alexander Nicholson

Policy

Why Libya Is So Hard to Govern

Inter-group squabbling reigns as the country stalls on drafting its new constitution. By Jason Pack and Will Raynolds

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

Policy

House Defense Champion Rep. Bill Young to Retire

The House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee chairman and longtime defense hawk will step town after more than 40 years in Congress. By Kevin Baron

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

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

Policy

Week Two of the Shutdown: Will There Be a Compromise?

Lawmakers return to work for the second week of the shutdown. Are they any closer to reaching a deal? By Billy House

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

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

Business

Could a Brief, Hastily Written Law Put More DoD Workers Back on the Job?

The Pay Our Military Act was written in such a rush that it might give the Pentagon the power to decide who gets furloughed – not the White House. By Stephanie Gaskell

Policy

How Obama Botched a Chance for Peace in Syria Last Year

One year and 80,000 lives ago, the United Nations envoy had carved a path for a government 'transition.' But the White House and Hillary Clinton rejected it. By Michael Hirsh

Business

Paying the Troops: Beyond the Shutdown

The government shutdown puts a spotlight on the growing concerns over the long-term cost of military personnel. By Maren Leed and Ariel Robinson