Policy

The Next Fight Over Military Sexual Assault Is Already Here

Senators Claire McCaskill and Kirsten Gillibrand are set to clash over competing proposals to reform military justice once the Senate returns. By Stacy Kaper

Threats

Washington's Dysfunction Is Sabotaging America's Middle East Policy

Neither the left nor the right has offered a serious strategy for how to respond to the emergence of new types of militant groups across the Middle East. By David Rohde

Policy

The 600 Doomed Defense Bills of 2013

Believe it not, members of Congress introduced 600 defense-related bills last year. More than two-thirds went absolutely nowhere. By Jordain Carney

Business

Obama and Congress Are One Step Closer to Closing Guantanamo Bay's Prison

Measures tucked into the recently passed NDAA pave the way towards shutting the notorious facility down. By Stacy Kaper

Business

Senate Backs NDAA With 1 Percent Pay Raise for Troops

The measure also extends the Pentagon's ability to provide housing allowances, reenlistment bonuses and foreign language incentives. By Eric Katz

Policy

Feinstein’s NSA Bill Is Officially on Life Support

Civil liberties groups have strongly pushed back against the bill, claiming that it "entrenches" the agency's surveillance programs. By Dustin Volz

Policy

Senate Passes Budget Bill Cutting Pension Benefits for New Feds and Military Retirees

The $85 billion savings package would fund the government well past mid-January 2014, and sets spending levels through fiscal 2015. By Kellie Lunney

Policy

NDAA Clears Key Hurdle, Final Passage Expected This Week

Wednesday's vote ran over Republican objections that prohibited additional amendments to the defense authorization bill. By Stacy Kaper

Policy

Senators Eyeing Changes to Military Retiree Pensions

The budget looks like it will pass on Wednesday, but lawmakers are already gearing up to make plenty of fixes in the coming months. By Sarah Mimms and Michael Catalini

Policy

Top GOP Senator: Iran Sanctions Bill Coming

The rollout of the bipartisan measure is dependent on a timetable set by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Bob Menendez, R-N.J. By Stacy Kaper

Policy

Feinstein: Let Supreme Court Decide the Fate of NSA's Surveillance Programs

The California Democrat's statement comes in the wake of a monumental ruling by a federal judge on the intelligence agency's surveillance techniques. By Sara Sorcher and Dustin Volz

Business

Congress Wants Pentagon to Upgrade Nuclear Command and Control

A provision in the NDAA requires the Defense Department to create a special council overseeing nuclear communications technology. By Rachel Oswald

Business

Senate Confirms New Air Force Secretary

Deborah Lee James is the service's second female secretary, and brings years of industry experience to the job. By Jordain Carney

Business

House Passes Bipartisan Budget Deal

The $85 billion dollar deal will tweak the pension contributions for new federal workers and working age military retirees. By Kellie Lunney

Business

House Passes NDAA, Approves 1 Percent Pay Raise for Troops

The measure also covered other critical areas of military compensation, including combat pay, housing allowances, and reenlistment bonuses. By Kellie Lunney

Policy

Graham Threatens to Block Defense Bill Over Iran Sanctions Vote

With Congress running out of time, Graham threatens to halt the NDAA unless more sanctions are placed on Iran. By Stacy Kaper

Policy

Why Congress Should Fully Fund the VA in Advance

Congress is about to fail America’s veterans if they don’t tackle these bills this year, and fund the full VA in advance. By Alexander Nicholson

Policy

Gillibrand’s Sexual Assault Bill Facing Long Odds

A tight congressional calendar and continued opposition from lawmakers does not bode well for the measure. By Jordain Carney

Policy

Republicans and Democrats Announce Budget Deal

The $1 trillion agreement would provide approximately $63 billion in relief from sequestration, split evenly between defense and non-defense programs. By Tim Alberta, Billy House and Sarah Mimms

Policy

Expect Kerry, Congress to Clash Over Fragile Iran Nuclear Deal

Though the administration secured a small victory in Geneva, many lawmakers are seething at the terms of the deal. By Sara Sorcher and Stacy Kaper