Ideas

What Stands in the Way of the Pentagon Keeping Its Best and Brightest?

The Defense Department's impending force drawdown could accelerate the departure of some of its best personnel. Here are a few ideas on how to keep that from happening. By Amy Schafer

Business

Senior Executives Are Increasingly Leaving the Government

The federal government’s senior executives are leaving the civil service, creating the possibility for a shortage of qualified top managers. By Eric Katz

Ideas

My Father Was a D-Day Fighter Pilot

Active before, on and after D-Day, my father has as story. And so does my mother. By John Tierney

Business

How Pay Incentives Compounded VA's Problems

This is not the first time the Senior Executive Service pay and performance system has been the focus of criticism. By Howard Risher

Business

Are Unions the Big Problem at VA?

Two-thirds of the VA workforce is unionized and critics say too many of them spend their time on union organizing. By Charles S. Clark

Business

Before Resigning, Shinseki Announces Several Reforms at VA

VA Secretary Eric Shinseki took a parting shot before quitting Friday as he fired several senior leaders and canceled bonuses. By Sarah Mimms

Business

Here's the Man Who Will Replace Shinseki at the VA

Sloan Gibson, the former head of the USO, will step in as acting secretary of the Veterans Affairs Department. By Marina Koren

Business

Are Paychecks the Problem? Senate Considers Bonuses for Pentagon’s Cyber Workforce

The private sector is eating the Pentagon’s lunch when it comes to skilled workers. A Senate panel wants to know if bonuses and incentives will make a difference. By Aliya Sternstein

Policy

Immigration Reform Tries For Military Path To Citizenship

Immigration reform opponents shake a finger at letting young illegals enlist their way to citizenship. By Elahe Izadi

Policy

House to Vote on 1.8 Percent Military Pay Hike This Week

The House begins taking up the National Defense Authorization Act on Tuesday, including a measure to increase troop pay by nearly twice the president’s request. By Kellie Lunney

Business

Pentagon Gets New Acting Chief Information Officer

Terry Halvorsen moves up from the Navy's top IT spot to fill the vacancy created by Teri Takai's departure in early May. By Katherine McIntire Peters

Policy

Congress Punts on Military Compensation Reform

A House committee missed a chance last week to make needed changes to military benefits. By Jesse Sloman

Business

HASC Approves 1.8 Percent Pay Raise for Troops

The raise is higher than the 1 percent hike President Obama is asking for. By Kellie Lunney

Policy

How Congress Plans to Prevent Military Suicides

Lawmakers want to use the annual defense spending bill to increase mental health screenings in the military. By Jordain Carney

Business

Bill Supports 1.8 Percent Pay Raise for Troops

The House Armed Services Committee wants to nearly double President Obama’s proposed pay hike for service members. By Kellie Lunney

Business

Pentagon Says Reporting Is Up, But Sexual Assaults Are Not

Pentagon officials say even though there’s been a 50 percent increase in reports of sexual assaults in the ranks, there’s no correlating increase in the crime. By Stephanie Gaskell

Business

House Republicans Aren't Budging on Military Compensation

Military families have delivered a clear message to the Defense Department and Congress: Don’t cut our benefits. And House Republicans have listened. By Eric Katz

Business

Intelligence Agencies Granting Fewer Security Clearances

Security clearance approvals declined for the second consecutive fiscal year, according to a report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. By Eric Katz

Policy

Pentagon Readies Record $11B Health Care Contract Bid

At stake is nothing less than one of the largest IT-related contracts in government. By Frank Konkel

Business

Actually, the Army Will 'Involuntarily Separate' Officers

A spokesman walks back Tuesday’s claim that the Army would not lay anyone off. By Eric Katz