Business
VA to Congress: It’s Still Too Hard to Fire Bad Employees
A House hearing took an unexpected turn into longstanding problems of management.
Policy
NSA Spying Heads to Critical Senate Showdown
After the House voted to end bulk collection of phone data, Sen. Mitch McConnell promised to force a vote next week to reauthorize it.
Policy
Sen. Corker: NSA Should Do Far More with Your Phone Data
The NSA's bulk-data collection program is so scaled down that it's not nearly as effective as it should be, the Senate Foreign Relations chairman says.
Policy
While Ruling NSA Program Illegal, Appeals Court Suggests Path Forward
A recent federal appeals court ruling on the NSA's domestic surveillance program seems to be sending the political branches constitutional messages about how to proceed next.
Policy
Pentagon’s Budget, Middle East Summit Add Up to A Big Week in Washington
The House and Senate take up their respective defense authorization bills while the White House welcomes Gulf leaders for a two-day summit at Camp David.
Policy
Republicans Come Out In Force To Keep NSA's Domestic Surveillance Alive
Sen. Mitch McConnell and his fellow GOP security hawks are working hard to keep the spy agency’s phone dragnet. But they’re making some dubious claims in its defense.
Policy
‘Road to Nowhere’: Defense Secretary Slams GOP Defense Budget
One day after Republicans passed a budget resolution that would boost defense spending, Pentagon leaders called it irresponsible and dangerous.
Policy
John McCain Actually Applauds A White House National-Security Move
Nobody is happier than the Senate Armed Services chairman that President Obama has picked Gen. Joseph Dunford to replace Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey.
Policy
In Senate GOP's Iran Standoff, the Rebels Are Losing
Most Republicans are siding against Marco Rubio and Tom Cotton in their quest for tough amendment votes.
Policy
Congress, White House on Collision Course Over Guantanamo
GOP lawmakers are trying to block Obama’s last chance to close the prison.
Policy
Democrats May Delay GOP Defense Bill Until Spending Caps Are Lifted
In both chambers, the minority wants to stop the majority from passing bills that skirt or exceed funding caps.
Policy
Bernie Sanders Enters 2016 Race as an Alternative to Hawkish Rivals—Including Clinton
The anti-war Vermont senator calls for accountable defense spending and better veterans care, setting him apart from other 2016 candidates on national security.
Policy
Tom Cotton, Twitter, and the Weird Future of Diplomacy
The freshman senator challenges Iran’s foreign minister to a debate, gets slapped down.
Policy
New Bill Would Boost Whistleblower Protections for Military Sexual Assault Victims
Sen. Barbara Boxer and her Democratic colleagues introduce a bill to strengthen protections for those who blow the whistle on military wrongdoing, waste, fraud and abuse — including sexual abuse.
Policy
The Bipartisan Bedfellows Behind the Iran Bill
Sens. Bob Corker and Benjamin Cardin are teaming up to keep poison pills that would kill the measure at bay.
Threats
The High Stakes Test for the Iran Deal — and the 2016 Contenders
The trio of Senate Republicans running for the presidency are unsheathing procedural weapons in a fight to burnish their national security credentials.
Policy
Rand Paul’s Drone Reversal
The Kentucky senator defends the White House drone policy he once lambasted in a 13-hour filibuster, dulling any edge he may have had on a GOP pack running on the same national security platform.
Ideas
Congress’ Flabby Defense Budgets Aren’t Entirely Lawmakers’ Fault
The Obama administration’s national security strategy is too vague to promote efficient budgeting.
Policy
Rand Paul Is Suddenly Quiet About Ending the NSA's Domestic Surveillance
Sen. Rand Paul hates the Patriot Act and NSA mass surveillance, but remains tight-lipped about majority leader Mitch McConnell's plan to keep both alive.
Threats