Defense Systems

Defense contractors could go years without facing sequestration's impact, but DOD civilian employees may not be so lucky

New research indicates many defense contractors, both large and small, have been worrying about sequestration and bracing for impact, but it’s the Defense Department workforce that will feel the effects first.

Defense Systems

Six-month stopgap measure clouds defense appropriations

Congress is planning to forego appropriations bills for fiscal 2013 in favor of passing a six-month-long stopgap spending measure that would seek to maintain 2012 funding levels though March

Defense Systems

Cyber warfare rules for military still pending

The Defense Department is still struggling with how to write the rules of cyber warfare, particularly the offensive portion involving when and how to respond to a major cyberattack, senior military leaders told Congress July 25.

Defense Systems

White House offers belated support for cybersecurity bill

The White House is making what appears to be an all-out push to get CISPA passed. Why is there such a sense of urgency now?

Defense Systems

Cyber compromise bill swaps mandates for incentives

The revised Cybersecurity Act of 2012 relies on “carrots rather than sticks.”

Defense Systems

House DOD appropriations bill puts cyber under microscope

The House is expected to pass its version of the 2013 defense appropriations bill, a $608 billion budget poised to take a significant hit if sequestration becomes a reality

Defense Systems

Americans want defense cuts, but differ on what to scale back

A vast majority of Americans from both sides of the political aisle think significant reductions in defense spending are in order, according to a data from a new survey released July 16.

Defense Systems

Lawmaker fumes over DOD effort to trim report length

A new Defense Department rule restricting the length of reports to Congress has raised some ire on Capitol Hill.

Defense Systems

When will Congress debate the cybersecurity bills?

A bipartisan effort to move cybersecurity legislation in the Senate could bring pending bills to the floor for debate in the near future.

Defense Systems

Sequestration would paralyze military, put US at greater war risk

Panetta, Dempsey tell Senate Appropriations Committee of disastrous consequences of scalping military spending.

Defense Systems

'Legislative pessimism' could kill cybersecurity legislation

Cybersecurity Act of 2012 co-sponsor and Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) said June 12 that "legislative pessimism" might sabotage comprehensive cybersecurity legislation, resulting in no action on the pressing matter in an election year.

Defense Systems

Former officials call on Senate to act promptly on cyber legislation

A group of former Pentagon, Homeland Security and intelligence officials have written the Senate's Democratic and Republican leaders urging them to bring cybersecurity legislation to the floor as soon as possible.

Defense Systems

Budget blues force Air Force to cancel IT event

The Air Force's annual IT conference has been shelved for 2012 as event spending comes under tough government scrutiny.

Defense Systems

What exactly is Congress doing to undo defense sequestration?

Congress is attempting to avert mandatory budget cuts that some fear could seriously hamper the Defense Department's mission. But can members come together before it's too late?

Defense Systems

Military radio competition heats up as lawmakers intervene

The introduction of a bipartisan amendment to the House Armed Services Committee's defense authorization markup caused a short-lived dustup recently when it sought to bar the Army and Navy from procuring tactical radio systems that depend on proprietary waveforms.

Defense Systems

Nato summit: Turkey pressures US to sell armed UAVs

President Barack Obama's administration favors selling armed unmanned aerial vehicles to Turkey but faces formidable opposition from Congress on the matter, Turkish president Abdullah Gul told reporters at the NATO Summit.

Defense Systems

House rolls back export restrictions on satellites

The House of Representatives has passed an amendment to the 2013 defense authorization bill that would ease export restrictions on commercial satellites and simplify their export to allies and partners.

Defense Systems

House shoots down DOD plea to alter commercial products definition

The House Armed Services Committee has turned down a request by the Defense Department to correct a commercial products definition that defense acquisition officials believe is being applied too broadly.

Defense Systems

Catastrophic sequestration just around the corner?

If Congress and the president can't come to an agreement and soon, the Defense Department could be heading straight for sequestration.

Defense Systems

'Turf war' between DOD and DHS delays US cyber guidelines

The urgent need for a new national cyber engagement policy has taken a backseat to the battle between the Homeland Security and Defense departments.