Business

After $18M, US Halts Work on Half-Renovated Prison in Afghanistan

The State Department paid a contractor $18 million to renovate the aging facility, but canceled the contract with only half of the work completed. By Charles Clark

Business

Does the VA Have a Women Veterans Problem?

Both inside and outside of the department, there's one consensus: the VA has a long way to go to gain the trust of female veterans. By Jordain Carney

Business

The Pentagon Still Needs More Eyes in the Sky

After more than a decade of war in Afghanistan and Iraq, airborne intelligence will be critical for years to come. By Marcus Weisgerber

Business

The Army Wants To Fully Integrate Conventional and Special Operations Forces

Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have proven the benefits of joint conventional and special operations missions. Now the Army wants expand that formula. By Col. Mike Rauhut

Business

Military Retirees Will Receive a 1.7 Percent COLA for 2015

The cost of living adjustment for federal and military retirees reflects a slight loosening of the fiscal belt, though it's still the third straight year the boost has been less than two percent. By Kellie Lunney

Business

Concerned About Retaliation, VA Wants To Restrict When Vets Can View Disability Claims Online

Officials are worried that some veterans could become violent if they believe that their disability claims are being denied. By Jordain Carney

Business

Afghanistan's Opium Trade Is at an All-Time High

After nearly a decade and $7.6 billion to eradicate Afghanistan's poppy fields, farmers grew an unprecedented 209,000 hectares of opium last year. By Charles S. Clark​

Business

State Department Clears Sale of 46,000 Tank Rounds for Iraq

The pending sale would bolster the Iraqi Army, which has been fighting Islamic State militants all year. By Marcus Weisgerber

Cybersecurity

JPMorgan Says Government Purchase Cards Not Affected by Hack

Expense cards and government customers were not affected by this summer’s bank hack.

Business

The Army's Post-War Identity Crisis

After large-scale ground wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Army is mapping out what its future will look like. By Jordain Carney

Business

Army Fights Budget Cuts While Industry Targets Europe

After more than a decade of war, the Army is planning to buy less stuff, while defense firms are courting Europe in the wake of Ukraine. By Marcus Weisgerber

Business

The Army’s Next Engine War

Companies are gearing up for a lucrative competition to build a more powerful engine for the Army’s Blackhawk and Apache helicopters, but is it really needed? By Marcus Weisgerber

Business

This Is a Pivotal Moment for the US Nuclear Arsenal

The government is on the brink of hitting a nuclear spending cliff. Can the administration balance the need for deterrence with the promise of dismantling the nation's nuclear arsenal? By Adam Mount

Business

As the Army’s Future Takes Shape, So Does the Defense Market

As tens of thousands descend on Washington for the annual Association of the United States Army convention, competition for Army business is heating up. By Marcus Weisgerber

Ideas

To Save the Navy’s Next-Gen Drone, Kill It First

Aircraft carriers need better protection, so let’s restart the UCLASS program from scratch. By Paul Scharre and Shawn Brimley

Business

The Pentagon Scrapped $500 Million Worth of Afghan Planes for Pennies on the Dollar

Officials from the Defense Logistics Agency destroyed the planes after Afghan military personnel proved unable to service the vehicles. By Katherine Peters

Business

The Trouble With Defense Acquisition May Be the Workforce

The Defense Department could be doomed to wasteful spending when it comes to large weapons contracts if it doesn't change key incentives guiding its acquisition managers, a new report says. By Katherine McIntire Peters

Business

Barack Obama's Friendly-Fire Problem

Leon Panetta is the latest former aide to criticize the president publicly. This kind of thing didn't always happen. By David Graham

Business

From War To Work

A multiagency effort is helping veterans make the transition to civilian life. By Charlie Clark.

Business

Review Finds the Military’s Health System Is Good, But Far from ‘World-Class’

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s comprehensive review of the military’s health system yielded mixed results one year after it was rolled out. By Ben Watson