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

Business

How to Cut Defense Spending Without Hurting the Military

There is billions of dollars worth of bloat in the DOD's back offices. Trimming that would be a great start. By Eric Schnurer

Ideas

Five Takeaways from a Decade of War

After Secretary Hagel’s CSIS speech, Generals Cartwright, Chiarelli and Fogleman reveal key lessons of Iraq and Afghanistan the Pentagon should heed for the future. By James Kitfield

Business

Pentagon's Kendall: Budget Climate 'Worst I’ve Seen' for Planning

The DOD's top weapons buyer says that uncertainty is threatening the workforce 'and their ability to do their jobs.' By Charles S. Clark

Business

No More Nuclear-Tipped Cruise Missiles

The Pentagon is expected to decide soon whether to spend $30 billion on nuclear-tipped cruise missiles. Bad idea. By Tom Z. Collina

Policy

Kerry Says World Leaders Mocked Him Over Shutdown

Foreign leaders ribbed Secretary of State John Kerry over the shutdown, asking him if he needed money to pay for his meals. By Beth Reinhard

Business

Each U.S. Troop In Afghanistan Now Costs $2.1 Million

The average U.S. troop cost will nearly double in the final year of the war. By Kevin Baron

Ideas

Will the U.S. ‘Rebalance’ Its Contribution to NATO?

Ninety percent of NATO’s budget is paid for by just 6 of its 28 members. The U.S. says it’s time that changed. By Jorge Benitez

Policy

After the Shutdown, Uncertainty Still Plagues Pentagon

Congress averted disaster and reopened the government for business as usual. That’s the problem, say Pentagon leaders. By Kevin Baron

Business

Senate Shutdown Deal Includes Back-Pay Measure For Furloughed Feds

Even if the legislation passes, it may be a while before furloughed civilians receive their paychecks. By Kellie Lunney

Policy

Senate Shutdown Deal Moves to House, Again

House GOP scheduled for 3 p.m. meeting on bill that will require Democratic support. By Billy House

Policy

Will There Be a Debt Ceiling Deal?

With thousands of civilian defense workers on furlough and warnings that readiness is eroding, time is running out to reach to a deal on the debt limit. By National Journal Staff

Ideas

To Save the Submarines, Eliminate ICBMs and Bombers

If the Pentagon is serious about new Ohio-class SSBNs, then it should end the “nuclear triad” of missiles and bombers (freeing $20 billion a year). By Christopher Preble and Matt Fay

Business

House OKs Bill To Pay Federal Workers On Time During Shutdown

The House unanimously approves legislation to pay federal employees who are working during the shutdown on time, but the White House says it will veto it. By Eric Katz