Policy
Dunford: US Will Rethink Its Iraq Presence If Russia Goes In
Russia’s actions in the Middle East have U.S. lawmakers launching heated questions at top Pentagon officials. The answers so far have been less than reassuring.
Policy
Congress Might Actually Pass a Budget This Year — And Next
Negotiators are close to an agreement that would increase federal spending, and the debt limit, for the next two years.
Policy
The Benghazi Committee's Missed Chance at Clinton's Real Record
Both sides pledged they wouldn’t. Both went after each other anyway.
Policy
Can Paul Ryan Save the Defense Department from Sequestration?
As the defense policy bill awaits a threatened veto, Washington wonders whether the Wisconsin Republican will become House Speaker — and resolve the budget impasse.
Ideas
How Budget Battles Undermine National Security
Congress should raise the debt limit and break its dependence on continuing resolutions.
Policy
The Perseverance of Kirsten Gillibrand
Whether confronting the military over sexual assault or her fellow New York senator on the Iran deal, the Democrat’s ambitions stretch beyond Hillary Clinton’s shadow.
Ideas
How the Media Aids and Abets the Benghazi Committee
The investigation is functioning as partisan oppo-research organization, and the press is enabling it.
Business
Military Pay and Benefits in Limbo As Obama Weighs Veto
The defense bill includes a 1.3 percent pay raise for troops in 2016, an overhaul of the retirement system, and money for basic housing allowances.
Policy
Scalise Emerges as Defense Hawks' Pick for House No. 2
The majority whip backed their plan to evade spending limits by using the wartime contingency fund.
Policy
Defense Policy Bill Heads to Obama, Who Readies Veto Pen
The 2016 NDAA would give the Pentagon all the money the White House requested — but without resolving four-year-old budget caps.
Science & Tech
Senate To Reconsider Controversial InfoSec Bill After Recess
The proposed, and long-debated, Cyberthreat Information Sharing Act will see the floor again.
Threats
Senate Moves Defense Policy Bill One Step Closer to Obama’s Veto Pen
But enough Democrats got on board to give Republicans the votes to override it in the Senate.
Policy
U.S. Commander in Afghanistan: Now Is Not the Time to Leave
Gen. Campbell tells lawmakers he has sent the White House various options for keeping troops beyond 2016.
Policy
Lawmakers' Defense Spending Agreement Ignores Obama on War Fund, Guantanamo
House and Senate members agreed to military personnel and acquisition reforms, yet set up a showdown over the offshore prison and wartime supplemental funding.
Policy
Congress Plans To Keep Government Open
A short-term spending measure would keep the government running until early December.
Business
White House, Agencies Begin Prepping for ‘Executing an Orderly Shutdown’
OMB is currently reviewing contingency plans submitted by all agencies in preparation for an appropriations lapse.
Policy
McCain Vows One Continuing Resolution Only, Then It’s Budget Deal or Bust
The Armed Service Committee chairman compared his own majority leader’s strategy on defense spending to the administration’s in Iraq and Syria: nonexistent.
Policy
Is Joni Ernst the Next John McCain?
The freshman Iowa senator and Iraq vet is making her way into the GOP’s national-security leadership.
Policy
Lawmakers Reheat War Over Defense vs Non-Defense Spending
The announcement from Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell is seen as a coup for Democrats who want a plan to raise budget caps on both defense and nondefense spending.
Policy