Category «Defense»

Hearing – The Homeland Threat Landscape and U.S. Response

Hearing before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs – The Homeland Threat Landscape and U.S. Response – November 14, 2013 – The Honorable Matthew G. Olsen Director National Counterterrorism Center. “Homegrown Violent Extremists (HVEs) remain the most likely global jihadist threat to the Homeland. While the threat posed by HVEs probably will broaden …

Subjects: Congress, Defense, Government Documents

New GAO Reports – TSA, DHS Financial Management, Federal Employees, Aviation Security, Defense Logistics, Info Tech

AVIATION SECURITY- TSA Should Limit Future Funding for Behavior Detection Activities, GAO-14-158T, Nov 14, 2013 DHS FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT – Additional Efforts Needed to Resolve Deficiencies in Internal Controls and Financial Management Systems, GAO-13-561, Sep 30, 2013 FEDERAL EMPLOYEES – Opportunities Exist to Strengthen Performance Management Pilot, GAO-13-755, Sep 12, 2013 GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR BANK HOLDING COMPANIES – Statutory Changes to Limit …

Subjects: Defense, Economy, Financial System, Government Documents

Sexual Assault in the Military-2013 Statutory Report

“The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights chose to focus on sexual assault in the U.S. military for its annual 2013 Statutory Enforcement Report. This report examines how the Department of  Defense and its Armed Services—the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force (the  Services)—respond to Service members who report having been sexually assaulted (“victims”)  and …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Defense, Government Documents

New GAO Reports – Sequestration, Corporate Tax Expenditures, Defense Health Care Reform, GPS Disruptions, Info Tech, Transportation Disadvantaged Populations, Private Pensions

SEQUESTRATION – Observations on the Department of Defense’s Approach in Fiscal Year 2013, GAO-14-177R, Nov 7, 2013 CORPORATE TAX EXPENDITURES – Evaluations of Tax Deferrals and Graduated Tax Rates, GAO-13-789, Sep 16, 2013 DEFENSE HEALTH CARE REFORM – Additional Implementation Details Would Increase Transparency of DOD’s Plans and Enhance Accountability, GAO-14-49, Nov 6, 2013 GPS DISRUPTIONS – Efforts to Assess Risks to …

Subjects: Congress, Defense, Government Documents, Health Care, Transportation

National Security Archive Posts Able Archer 83 Sourcebook

The Able Archer 83 Sourcebook: “Today marks the 30th anniversary of the beginning of Able Archer 83, a NATO exercise that utilized “new nuclear weapons release procedures” to simulate the transition from conventional to nuclear war with the Soviet Union.  Although US officials saw Able Archer 83 as a routine exercise, it resulted in an “unprecedented Soviet …

Subjects: Defense, Freedom of Information, Government Documents

CRS – Israel: Background and U.S. Relations

Israel: Background and U.S. Relations – Jim Zanotti, Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs – November 1, 2013 “Since Israel’s founding in 1948, successive U.S. Presidents and many Members of Congress have demonstrated a commitment to Israel’s security and to maintaining close U.S.-Israel defense, diplomatic, and economic cooperation. U.S. and Israeli leaders have developed close relations …

Subjects: Congress, Defense, Government Documents

Report of National Commission for Review of Research and Development Programs of the United States Intelligence Community, Unclassified Version

Report of the National Commission for the Review of the Research and Development Programs of the United States Intelligence Community, Unclassified Version, released November 2013 “The global spread of scientific and technical knowledge challenges U.S. national security. It threatens to erode essential capabilities of the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) and the strength of the U.S. …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, Defense, E-Government, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Knowledge Management, Patriot Act, Privacy

CRS – Multiyear Procurement and Block Buy Contracting in Defense Acquisition

Multiyear Procurement (MYP) and Block Buy Contracting in Defense Acquisition: Background and Issues for Congress, October 29, 2013 “Multiyear procurement (MYP) and block buy contracting (BBC) are special contracting mechanisms that Congress permits the Department of Defense (DOD) to use for a limited number of defense acquisition programs. Compared to the standard or default approach …

Subjects: Defense, Government Documents

New GAO Reports – DHS, Native American Veterans, Small Business Innovation Research

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY – Opportunities Exist to Enhance Visibility over Collaborative Field Mechanisms, GAO-13-734, Sep 27, 2013 NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS – DOL Needs a Clear Plan to Improve Employment and Training Services on Tribal Lands, GAO-13-664, Sep 26, 2013 SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH – Data Rights Protections, GAO-14-116R, Nov 4, 2013

Subjects: Defense, Economy, Government Documents

New GAO Reports – Aviation Safety, Health Care Fraud, Homeland Security, Defense Acquisitions, Financial Crime, TARP

AVIATION SAFETY – Status of Recommendations to Improve FAA’s Certification and Approval Processes, GAO-14-142T, Oct 30, 2013 FEDERAL PROTECTIVE SERVICE – Challenges with Oversight of Contract Guard Program Still Exist, and Additional Management Controls Are Needed, GAO-13-694, Sep 17, 2013 HEALTH CARE FRAUD AND ABUSE CONTROL PROGRAM – Indicators Provide Information on Program Accomplishments, but Assessing Program Effectiveness is …

Subjects: Cybercrime, Defense, Economy, Financial System, Government Documents, Health Care

Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy

CRS – Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy, Kenneth Katzman – Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs – October 23, 2013 “The United States and its partner countries are reducing military involvement in Afghanistan as  Afghan security forces assume lead security responsibility throughout the country. The current  international security mission will terminate at the end of 2014 and likely …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, Defense, Government Documents, Legislation