![](https://www.federaltimes.com/resizer/v2/MVVW45RSOVJDSVS2LFMEIOKPGF.jpg?auth=af6e9134125c125b02ee4ae3d713b7efa9b7adcee3671578eb4ed911047ba50e&width=4902&height=3268)
![](https://www.federaltimes.com/resizer/v2/MVVW45RSOVJDSVS2LFMEIOKPGF.jpg?auth=af6e9134125c125b02ee4ae3d713b7efa9b7adcee3671578eb4ed911047ba50e&width=4902&height=3268)
![](https://www.federaltimes.com/resizer/v2/E43XN2JDZZAMXOSMQBU5SPU53E.jpg?auth=7cb9031f2a264d8da877f82615d2d11ed68a54af6f5cc91eb05527756f88a232&width=6000&height=4000)
Opinion
Should the Pentagon have used Commerce Department funds for semiconductors?
The U.S. Defense Department has successfully, albeit surreptitiously, swiped $3.5 billion from the Commerce Department’s CHIPS Act funding.
![](https://www.federaltimes.com/resizer/v2/DSWBC5AQYJGM3PISIPOS7V5ET4.jpg?auth=0ca78c86f697a18ec236e24d4092c38b0037dcb274ae7b2fd587f0c4d0148e82&width=3840&height=2160)
Watchdogs
Next-gen homeland defense interceptor plans are risky, watchdog says
In a report, the Government Accountability Office said there are technical, schedule and cost risks associated with the MDA's next-gen interceptor.
![](https://www.federaltimes.com/resizer/v2/GT6VN7PTZZGZZJC34UWFAKF3SE.jpg?auth=d5cadd479152b5958a60ca399a7ad981b43cc47a9b0c4dc42c45f814b7c0ac22&width=5500&height=3795)
Opinion
Election compounds federal agency uncertainty ahead of new fiscal year
With uncertainties around funding, federal agencies must know how to make strategic IT investments.
![](https://www.federaltimes.com/resizer/v2/KWMYHGO375D5HNUVTGRMNZ5C2Q.jpg?auth=8f59a25010917fa2f8d3d80f69abb6b17aff4d3399bfb25e809cc659167f37e0&width=5454&height=3896)
House defense bill takes aim at telework for DoD employees, contractors
Republicans especially have taken issue with lingering telework that spiked in use during the pandemic, though it has been a tool in government for decades
![](https://www.federaltimes.com/resizer/v2/A5LHODVE4ZEMRNEHMQC5N23J2Y.jpeg?auth=179a1fe5779d9e1425a373fb284e06b8a14d77f0c7155a800dfeba97c76b3eb5&width=4032&height=3024)
Nurses rally in DC, call for immediate hiring of VA medical staff
After record hiring in 2023, official say the VHA's workforce is at its highest point in history.
![](https://www.federaltimes.com/resizer/v2/AF2MTWZRVNDBVD7ZEAN357H5FM.jpg?auth=67a0c249dfed5e76b4bb76539597ebf7c026c3552fb03ee13f1fa608a62f342d&width=5925&height=3950)
Biden threatens VA budget veto over abortion, gender-affirming care
The White House is opposed to a Republican-backed VA budget plan that is expected to be advanced this week.
![](https://www.federaltimes.com/resizer/v2/7QGPTZXU3FFF7IN3XGGSDRK7LY.jpg?auth=cb8e33b8d4ebbcb6485c3f2273e70fc49095d86d1341be1d26afb9132f15e8c7&width=5814&height=3876)
Republicans back abortion ban in $360B VA budget draft for next year
VA would see a 10% boost in funding under a plan advanced by Republican appropriators on Tuesday, but Democrats oppose other parts of the bill.
![](https://www.federaltimes.com/resizer/v2/GNXGO2SIK5DVQSKBINMFSSCSPF.jpg?auth=10e7fe4feef87cc65fc28ff23f69847c0adde6747915c45aacd713aa68d50268&width=5288&height=3522)
High court sides with Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on funding
The case is among several challenges to federal regulatory agencies on the docket this term for a court that has been open to limits on their operations,
![](https://www.federaltimes.com/resizer/v2/ASLBIYC2LJF55EKNYZ5Z3T4WNA.jpg?auth=309b3dfe61470436772c60201f835be518be0b054494c5e29fac96894eee8c1f&width=1200&height=628)
Watchdog blasts VA for errors leading to $11M in improper bonuses
A watchdog report criticized VA leaders for mistakes in handling $11 million in bonuses for senior department leaders.
![](https://www.federaltimes.com/resizer/v2/TXP6YMCSLRGWVNP3MVDB24XSJ4.jpg?auth=1fb3c1b375e442d5f45665598c13ebd8bbd26d1b5e0006ea9c5bdec494adaced&width=700&height=466)
Senators wary of VA plans to trim employee numbers
VA leaders have said they plan to trim about 10,000 department posts in fiscal year 2025 in an effort to better manage their workforce.
![Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks begins her keynote speech Feb. 21, 2024, at a conference in Washington, D.C., hosted by the Pentagon's Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office.](https://www.federaltimes.com/resizer/v2/IDG7U5ZUIFC2DFYBDHG5S4NOOU.jpg?auth=454aac627ef2f33fc769ec0f30f1b6b08e2c52724d5ea45b04d3a06e4f9e873f&width=6016&height=4016)
Pentagon outlines systems, funding for first batch of Replicator
The announcement, while still leaving questions open, marks the first time the Pentagon has publicly discussed any system for its drone program.
![](https://www.federaltimes.com/resizer/v2/GFVHCTKLKFCFINCUJE4VA43TJV.jpg?auth=55412977a698fb132b0e68a3ff5882e5eaabca046d6a216507c062184767742a&width=2000&height=1125)
Opinion
NOAA’s budget is too small. That’s costing the US billions of dollars
With a fiscal year 2024 budget of $6.3 billion, the nation’s leading weather and climate agency remains significantly underfunded.
![The Capitol Dome in Washington, D.C., is seen in April 2024 behind a construction crew and fencing. This photo was taken using 35mm color film.](https://www.federaltimes.com/resizer/v2/VVDOCJXMPNF35AFGYCIRTNL2UE.jpg?auth=0ea8f895bb40015c6bd3b157d8b7d665f20397c115b447d69d5e5c1c550af1f5&width=2965&height=1965)
FY25 defense budget work to ramp up after security supplemental finish
Defense and veterans hearings on Capitol Hill for the week of April 30, 2024.
![](https://www.federaltimes.com/resizer/v2/L2AHCHLO5RDURH75IREQCWTJDY.jpg?auth=6bc31298c78fd1d87d014f6e345b6dfb4945ebeb9e5a43389f78b9214591db43&width=3058&height=2148)
Congress sends Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan aid package to president’s desk
After months of delays, Congress passed a $95 billion package that includes funds to arm Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.
![](https://www.federaltimes.com/resizer/v2/TDNTEOCRVZFQNNDUCNB36UIZZA.jpg?auth=fa539fb9e34f6d998ff0922f214297587f03236f920497c6090fc6851d728b44&width=5288&height=3526)
Pentagon presses Congress for Ukraine funding, citing dire situation
Pentagon leaders told Congress that Ukraine and Israel both desperately need weapons being held up by a failure to pass a funding package.
![](https://www.federaltimes.com/resizer/v2/QVQ756ITAZF2NKO7ISTT5QQLPA.jpg?auth=2447e4303adf32ded1bd89444063377b25b6c67f9f6788971c3259d5ce6d7136&width=5712&height=3808)
Republicans pick defense hawk to usher spending bills
Republicans have selected a traditional defense hawk and Ukraine aid proponent as the new House appropriations chairman.
![](https://www.federaltimes.com/resizer/v2/E6G3O5L4NBAORAA5Z5NJ7QGDVU.jpg?auth=0ca442ae47d511ee2b553f225ce013c54875581b8d2fc5b14ea149da42dcb808&width=3196&height=2131)
How the Pentagon found $300M for Ukraine, but is still deep in the red
The discovery of the $300 million has raised some eyebrows.
![](https://www.federaltimes.com/resizer/v2/N7UWIC7E4VA4JE2T7P3ZRXPYFQ.jpg?auth=35c9edf8efff69d5f356be741b1ef257fb33bf014e172c743fef3bef8334c1cb&width=1895&height=1267)