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

Business

Here’s Why the Proposed Military Retiree Benefit Cuts Are No Big Deal

Here are six reasons why it is hard to make an argument that the U.S. government is not acting in good faith for the men and women in uniform. By Lawrence Korb and Katherine Blakeley

Policy

Republican Senators Split Over Military Retiree COLA Cuts

Several key lawmakers want to halt the COLA adjustment to protect military retirees. 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

Business

Hagel Backs Budget Deal

The agreement doesn't solve all of the Pentagon's budget woes, but the defense secretary says it helps address readiness and procurement challenges. By Jordain Carney

Business

New Feds, Military Retirees to Contribute More to Pensions With Budget Deal

Savings gained by tweaking the retirement benefits of both groups would amount to $12 billion. By Kellie Lunney

Business

Budget Agreement Eases Pentagon's Sequester Pain

The Pentagon's budget remains undecided, as Congress punts the sequester just two years down the road. By Sara Sorcher and Stacy Kaper

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

GOP Divide Could Stall Defense Bill

The annual authorization bill could be held up if lawmakers throw up procedural barriers to stall SASC leadership. By Stacy Kaper

Policy

Can Congress Pass an NDAA This Year?

Lawmakers have their plates full, and its not clear whether or not a budget agreement will pass on Capitol Hill. By Billy House

Business

Spared from Hagel’s Cuts: Cyber, Asia-Pacific, Homeland Policy Jobs

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is cutting 200 jobs from his front office – but he made sure to protect several key policy positions in homeland, cyber and the Asia-Pacific. By Stephanie Gaskell

Business

Hagel to Cut Hundreds of Staff and Contractors for $1 Billion Savings

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says cutting 200 positions from his office -- and a lot of contractors -- will save about $1 billion by 2019. By Stephanie Gaskell

Policy

GOP Lawmakers: Cut Fed Benefits, Not Defense Spending

A new proposal wants to roll back the budget caps on defense spending, and replace them with scaled back pensions and benefits for federal employees. By Eric Katz

Business

Hagel Picks Christine Fox as His Acting Deputy

Christine Fox is named acting deputy defense secretary, temporarily replacing Ash Carter and making her the highest-ranking woman at the Pentagon. By Stephanie Gaskell

Business

How Ash Carter Oversold DOD’s Savings Record and His Role

Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter is right to dismiss sequestration, but don’t buy his ‘Better Buying Power’ defense. Carter was on the watch. By Lawrence J. Korb

Policy

Now Contractors Furloughed During the Shutdown Could Receive Back Pay

Proposed legislation would allow low-wage contract workers to receive wages for the 16 days the federal government was shuttered. By Eric Katz

Business

Pentagon's Hale Still Optimistic About a Budget 'Micro-Deal'

With sequestration "taking its toll," Hale says that the Congress must move forward and agree to a plan that provides the DOD some stability. By Charles Clark

Ideas

Manage Defense Spending Through ‘Better Buying Power,’ Not Sequestration

If sequestration holds, the Pentagon will face inefficient funding choices that will reduce our buying power. By Ashton B. Carter