Defense Systems

Like it or not, controversial CISPA cybersecurity bill is back

Two members of the House Intelligence Committee on Feb. 13 reintroduced their Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA), which passed the House of Representatives last year but failed to make it through the Senate.

Defense Systems

Republicans pledge to work toward avoiding sequestration

A top Republican senator said Nov. 25 that his party is willing to be flexible about increased revenues provided Democrats give ground on entitlements in the quest to find a legislative solution to sequestration.

Defense Systems

Senate rejects Cybersecurity Act for second time

A chorus of voices that included Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and other top national security officials was not enough to convince the Senate to pass the Cybersecurity Act of 2012 during a second vote on the controversial legislation on Sept. 14.

Defense Systems

Sequestration planning gets under way at DOD

The Defense Department is at last coming to grips with how it might handle $500 billion in spending cuts over the next decade scheduled to take effect Jan. 2 if Congress doesn't head off the impending sequestration with a deficit reduction plan.

Defense Systems

Cybersecurity legislation unlikely this year unless president steps in, says Rep. Dan Lungren

Congress isn't likely to pass cybersecurity legislation this year because the private sector is skeptical of government involvement and many Americans don't understand the urgent need for it.

Defense Systems

Informal discussions to head off sequestration underway, says SASC Chairman

There might be a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel for the sequestration dilemma facing the Defense Department.

Defense Systems

Pending guidance on sequestration fosters wait-and-see mindset among contractors

Defense contractors frustrated that Congress still has not found a way to avert automatic budget cuts scheduled to begin Jan. 2 might in the days ahead alert thousands of their employees that their jobs are at risk.

Defense Systems

Sequestration creates friction between Congress and OMB

When the House and Senate return from recess in September, lawmakers will only have until Jan. 2, 2013, to pass a spending bill that eliminates $1.2 trillion or more from the federal deficit.

Defense Systems

Sequestration defies rational planning, deputy secretary says

With sequestration looming increasingly large on the horizon, defense and civilian agencies have received little or no guidance on cutting spending and key deadlines.

Defense Systems

Defense contractors could go years without facing sequestration's impact, but DOD civilian employees may not be so lucky

New research indicates many defense contractors, both large and small, have been worrying about sequestration and bracing for impact, but it’s the Defense Department workforce that will feel the effects first.

Defense Systems

Six-month stopgap measure clouds defense appropriations

Congress is planning to forego appropriations bills for fiscal 2013 in favor of passing a six-month-long stopgap spending measure that would seek to maintain 2012 funding levels though March

Defense Systems

Cyber warfare rules for military still pending

The Defense Department is still struggling with how to write the rules of cyber warfare, particularly the offensive portion involving when and how to respond to a major cyberattack, senior military leaders told Congress July 25.

Defense Systems

White House offers belated support for cybersecurity bill

The White House is making what appears to be an all-out push to get CISPA passed. Why is there such a sense of urgency now?

Defense Systems

Cyber compromise bill swaps mandates for incentives

The revised Cybersecurity Act of 2012 relies on “carrots rather than sticks.”

Defense Systems

House DOD appropriations bill puts cyber under microscope

The House is expected to pass its version of the 2013 defense appropriations bill, a $608 billion budget poised to take a significant hit if sequestration becomes a reality

Defense Systems

Americans want defense cuts, but differ on what to scale back

A vast majority of Americans from both sides of the political aisle think significant reductions in defense spending are in order, according to a data from a new survey released July 16.

Defense Systems

Lawmaker fumes over DOD effort to trim report length

A new Defense Department rule restricting the length of reports to Congress has raised some ire on Capitol Hill.

Defense Systems

When will Congress debate the cybersecurity bills?

A bipartisan effort to move cybersecurity legislation in the Senate could bring pending bills to the floor for debate in the near future.

Defense Systems

Sequestration would paralyze military, put US at greater war risk

Panetta, Dempsey tell Senate Appropriations Committee of disastrous consequences of scalping military spending.

Defense Systems

'Legislative pessimism' could kill cybersecurity legislation

Cybersecurity Act of 2012 co-sponsor and Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) said June 12 that "legislative pessimism" might sabotage comprehensive cybersecurity legislation, resulting in no action on the pressing matter in an election year.