Policy

Lawmaker Wants All VA Bonuses Halted Until Colorado Project Is Completed

A new bill from Colorado's Rep. Mike Coffman would halt all bonuses across the Veterans Affairs Deparment until a long-delayed, nearly $2 billion hospital is up and running.

Business

John McCain to Air Force: Fire More Civilians

The Arizona senator says that the Air Force's claims it met staffing cuts are in fact a ruse that resulted in none of the cost savings that were intended.

Policy

Defense Trumps Domestic Programs as House Passes GOP Budget

After months of chaos, the GOP got the ball rolling on a budget that still faces an uncertain future in the Senate.

Policy

War? What War? Afghan President Draws Far Less Interest From Lawmakers Than Netanyahu Did

Despite thousands of lives lost in Afghanistan, billions of dollars spent and now, a halt to the U.S. withdrawal, Ashraf Ghani’s address makes barely a ripple in Congress relative to the Israeli prime minister.

Policy

Better VA Accountability Won't Send Employees Running, Lawmaker Says

The Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee said his new bill to crack down on senior VA executive misconduct won't cause an exodus of talent.

Policy

The Provision That Could Destroy the Sequester

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Michael Enzi added a small provision into the Senate GOP budget designed to provide the flexibility to alter budget caps again.

Policy

The Glowing Optimism of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani

Ashraf Ghani praised U.S. support in his speech before Congress and promised to accelerate his country's move toward self-reliance.

Business

New House Armed Services Chairman Flexes Muscles for Pentagon Buyers

House Armed Services Chairman Mac Thornberry flexes his new muscles in attempt to give Pentagon program managers breathing room.

Policy

How the White House and Congress Plan To Boost Defense: Ignore Sequestration

Washington is really planning to avoid dealing with the budget caps, and boost defense spending anyway.

Policy

Here’s What Is in the Senate’s Cybersecurity Bill

The new measure would increase information sharing amongst the intelligence community, while expanding the NSA's surveillance authorities.

Policy

GOP Budget Hawks Want To Use War Funds To Skirt Defense Caps

McCain, but not everyone, dismissed using OCO funds as a 'dodge' around ending sequestration and getting back to a normal budget process.

Policy

Tom Cotton, the GOP's Newest Hawk, Takes Flight

Is Sen. Tom Cotton the hawk to lead the GOP back to national security supremacy?

Policy

Senate Panel Advances Cybersecurity Bill

In the wake of last December's Sony hack, the Senate Intelligence Committee passed a controversial information sharing bill that could embolden the NSA's surveillance programs.

Policy

The Only Thing the White House and Congress Agree On About the War Against ISIS

Senators and Obama’s top officials agree on one thing on the war against the Islamic State -- Congress is unlikely to authorize it, and it’s unlikely to matter.

Policy

Can Congress Be Trusted With America’s Foreign Policy?

Iran, Ukraine and a new war powers request to fight the Islamic State give Congress plenty to consider and even more to mess up.

Policy

Republicans May Have Undermined Their Own Cause Against Iran

The letter from 47 Republicans to Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei could provide an excuse to blame the U.S. if nuclear negotiations fail.

Policy

One Year Later, Obama Administration Still ‘Reviewing’ Lethal Aid to Ukraine

For roughly a year, Obama officials have been weighing lethal aid to Ukraine. Some 6,000 Ukrainians have been killed since, but they’re no closer to a decision.

Policy

Bob Menendez Pressures White House on Ukraine as Charges Loom

With his political future in question, the senator from New Jersey isn’t backing down on criticizing the administration's handling of the crisis in Ukraine.

Policy

More Democrats Urge Obama To Arm the Ukrainians

On the heels of Ash Carter and Martin Dempsey’s testimony the U.S. should ‘absolutely consider’ arming Ukraine, a bipartisan group of lawmakers is pushing Obama further.

Threats

Republicans Really Need Democrats To Pass the Iran Deal Bill

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wants to pass a bill quickly, but Democrats want to slow the clock down and wait for negotiations to conclude.