Confusion over VA worker dismissals irks advocates, lawmakers
Department leaders have declined to provide more information on recent layoffs amid rumors of looming additional staff cuts.
Congress
VA leadership nominee grilled over recent department layoffs
President Donald Trump nominated Paul Lawrence to serve as the second-highest leader in the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Protestors demand VA oppose Trump efforts to trim federal workforce
Several dozen union members and VA employees rallied outside the department headquarters amid fears of staff cuts and funding reductions for the agency.
VA secretary tapped to temporarily lead 2 federal oversight offices
VA Secretary Doug Collins will lead the Office of Government Ethics and the Office of Special Counsel until new directors are named.
More than 300k VA health jobs exempted from White House hiring freeze
About two-thirds of Veterans Affairs jobs will be excluded from a White House order blocking new hiring.
As Congress returns to DC, so does the threat of a federal shutdown
Defense and veterans hearings on Capitol Hill for the week of Sept. 9, 2024.
Government power in US is a swirl of checks and balances
Article II of the Constitution said executive power would be vested in the president but didn't specify what those powers specifically were.
Bollinger ready to vie for US, Canada, Finland icebreaker contracts
The company will build Polar Security Cutters for the U.S. as it signs an icebreaker pact with Canada and Finland.
As more NATO countries meet spending targets, some push to raise goals
Over 2/3 of NATO allies now meet the minimum defense spending requirement but some are pushing to raise the target amid uncertainty over Russia and Trump.
Biden unveils additional air defense aid for Ukraine at NATO summit
Five countries will provide additional air defense systems for Ukraine in the coming months.
Former US Sen. Jim Inhofe, top Republican defense voice, dies at 89
During the Trump administration, Inhofe served as chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Senators implore VA secretary keep community care access for veterans
Twenty senators signed a letter to Secretary McDonough, urging him to adjust a policy initiative they said is making it hard for veterans to access care.
Officers who defended Capitol fight falsehoods over Jan. 6, back Biden
Three and a half years after the Capitol attack, former President Donald Trump still falsely claims the 2020 election was stolen.
Congressman’s former commander confirms disputed Bronze Star
Rep. Troy Nehls claims he received two Bronze Stars, but a news investigation found only one in his official military records.
House passes defense spending bill amid F-35, submarine purchase spats
The legislation overrides an authorization bill from the Armed Services Committee that moves in a different direction on attack-submarine and F-35 buys.
House shoots down amendment to cut F-35 purchase
Meanwhile, there's talk of authorizing the defense secretary to seize Lockheed Martin's intellectual property.
Republicans will again try to slash defense secretary’s salary to $1
Democratic lawmakers have blasted the salary reductions as unrealistic and petty.
