Policy
Meet the Man Now Responsible for Solving the VA Crisis
Incoming VA secretary Robert McDonald received unanimous support during his Senate confirmation vote Tuesday. Now the real work begins. By Jordain Carney
Business
New VA Reform Bill Is a Stopgap, Not a Solution
The Miller-Sanders legislation announced Monday should make great changes to a broken system. But don't mistake it for a comprehensive reform bill. By Jesse Sloman
Policy
Congress Clears the Way for VA to Fire Senior Executives
A new bi-partisan bill to kickstart reforms at the Department of Veterans Affairs could find its way to the president's desk by the end of the week. By Eric Katz
Policy
Senate Thinks It May Have the NSA Reform Bill Everyone Can Agree On
Uniting the White House, tech companies, and privacy groups has proven nearly impossible so far. Will the Senate's latest attempt this week be any different? By Dustin Volz
Policy
Senate Panel's 1 Percent Troop, Civilian Pay Raise Now Faces House Hurdles
A more modest pay raise for troops and defense civilians looks safe in the Democratic-controlled Senate. But how will it fare in the Republican-controlled House? By Kellie Lunney
Policy
House, Senate Committee Reaches Compromise to Reform the VA
Just days before the August recess, a conference committee reached a deal to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs with a breakthrough $17 billion bill. By Molly O’Toole
Policy
Republicans Want to Mandate a Vote on the Iran Nuclear Deal
A group of senators said late Wednesday that sanctions would be automatically reimposed if the White House does not consult Congress. By Clara Ritger
Policy
How Long Will Congress Take to Solve the VA's Problems?
Lawmakers have serious reservations about the VA's $17.6 billion request to fix the overburdened system. By Jordain Carney
Threats
ISIL Is Now a ‘Full Blown Army’ in Iraq
House lawmakers grilled State and Pentagon officials to find out why the Obama administration has failed to stop ISIL from carving up Iraq and Syria. By Ben Watson
Policy
A New VA Secretary Is Just One Step on a Long Road to Reform
Congress has little time before the August recess to pass a sweeping VA reform bill that will determine whether Robert McDonald succeeds where his predecessors have failed. By Molly O’Toole
Threats
Feinstein Says the U.S. Is at ‘Cold War Levels’ With Russia
U.S. lawmakers' sense of futility at a peaceful resolution in Ukraine is being eclipsed by historic levels of distrust toward Russian President Vladimir Putin. By Dustin Volz
Policy
McCain Calls for the 'Most Severe Sanctions' on Russia
Sen. John McCain said it's time the U.S. armed the Ukrainian military while also calling for a rapid escalation of sanctions against Russia. By Rachel Roubein
Policy
GOP Proposes More National Guard Troops for the Border Crisis
House GOP lawmakers claim their border plan is a 'major change' that will cost 'less than half' of the president's nearly $4 billion border response package. By Billy House and Rachel Roubein
Policy
Why Rand Paul Loves to Fight Over Foreign Policy
Arguing over military intervention with the GOP is an ideal platform for the libertarian senator's most popular, and disruptive, ideas. By Molly Ball
Policy
Dunford Didn’t Endorse Plan to Pull Troops from Afghanistan by 2017
The president’s plan for withdrawing from Afghanistan can’t escape comparisons to Iraq – even from his top commander. By Molly O’Toole
Policy
Obama’s War Budget: ‘Slush Fund’ or the New Normal?
Lawmakers are balking at Obama’s $65.8 billion Overseas Contingency Operations request. By Molly O’Toole
Policy
Here Are All the Ways Congress Is Trying to Fix the VA
The Veterans Affairs Department is, by many accounts, broken, and Congress has a lot of ideas to fix it. By Eric Katz
Business
Don't Expect the VA to Improve Overnight
The acting VA secretary told Senators it will take years to correct the department's troubled course -- but an extra $17 billion could certainly speed things up. By Jordain Carney
Policy
House GOP Prepares Its Own Border Plan
All that's known so far is it will be cheaper than the president's $3.7 billion plan, and will include U.S. National Guard troops. By Billy House
Policy