Category «Defense»

GAO – Missile Defense – Opportunities Exist to Reduce Acquisition Risk and Improve Reporting on System Capabilities

Missile Defense: Opportunities Exist to Reduce Acquisition Risk and Improve Reporting on System Capabilities, GAO-15-345: Published: May 6, 2015. Publicly Released: May 6, 2015. “In fiscal year 2014, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) made some progress in achieving its testing and delivery goals for individual elements of the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS), but was …

Subjects: Congress, Defense, Economy, Government Documents

CRS – Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations

Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations, Christopher M. Blanchard, Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs. April 29, 2015. “The kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ruled by the Al Saud family since its founding in 1932, wields significant global political and economic influence through its administration of the birthplace of the Islamic faith and by virtue of its …

Subjects: Congress, Defense, Economy, Government Documents

Defense Acquisitions: How and Where DOD Spends Its Contracting Dollar

CRS Report – Defense Acquisitions: How and Where DOD Spends Its Contracting Dollars. Moshe Schwartz, Specialist in Defense Acquisition; Wendy Ginsberg, Analyst in American National Government, John F. Sargent Jr.Specialist in Science and Technology Policy. April 30, 2015. “The Department of Defense (DOD) has long relied on contractors to provide the U.S. military with a …

Subjects: Defense, Economy, Financial System, Government Documents

New GAO Reports – Community Development Capital Initiative, Controlled Substances, Unmanned Carrier-Based Aircraft System

Community Development Capital Initiative: Status of the Program Investments and Participants, GAO-15-542: Published: May 5, 2015. Publicly Released: May 5, 2015. Controlled Substances: DEA Needs to Better Manage Its Quota Process and Improve Coordination with FDA, GAO-15-494T: Published: May 5, 2015. Publicly Released: May 5, 2015. Unmanned Carrier-Based Aircraft System: Navy Needs to Demonstrate Match …

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

European Fighters in Syria and Iraq: Assessments, Responses, and Issues for the United States

CRS Report – European Fighters in Syria and Iraq: Assessments, Responses, and Issues for the United States, April 27, 2015. “The rising number of U.S. and European citizens traveling to fight with rebel and terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq has emerged as a growing concern for U.S. and European leaders, including Members of Congress. …

Subjects: Congress, Defense

New GAO Reports – Defense Contracting, Railroad Retirement Board

Defense Contracting: DOD’s Use of Competitive Procedures, GAO-15-484R: Published: May 1, 2015. Publicly Released: May 1, 2015: “During the period from fiscal year 2010 through fiscal year 2014, DOD’s competition rate—the dollars obligated annually on competitive contracts and task orders as a percentage of dollars obligated on all contracts and orders—ranged from 60.8 percent to …

Subjects: Defense, Economy, Transportation

New GAO Reports: Homeland Security, SEC’s Internal Controls, SEC Oversight of FINRA, Southwest Border, Needy Families, USAID

Homeland Security: Actions Needed to Better Manage Security Screening at Federal Buildings and Courthouses, GAO-15-445: Published: Mar 31, 2015. Publicly Released: Apr 30, 2015. Management Report: Improvements Needed in SEC’s Internal Controls and Accounting Procedures, GAO-15-387R: Published: Apr 30, 2015. Publicly Released: Apr 30, 2015. Securities Regulation: SEC Can Further Enhance Its Oversight Program of …

Subjects: Defense, Government Documents, Securities Law

Flying Under the Radar: Securing Washington D.C. Airspace

On April 29, 2015 the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held a hearing titled, “Flying Under the Radar: Securing Washington, D.C. Airspace [link includes Witness and Testimony Documents]This hearing examined how a small gyrocopter entered restricted airspace and landed on the West Lawn of the Capitol. HEARING BACKGROUND: “On April 15, 2015, an individual …

Subjects: Congress, Defense, Government Documents, Transportation

New GAO Reports – Broadband Networks, Yemen, Budgeting for Disasters, DOE Loan Programs, Aviation Alternatives

Public-Safety Broadband Network: FirstNet Should Strengthen Internal Controls and Evaluate Lessons Learned, GAO-15-407: Published: Apr 28, 2015. Publicly Released: Apr 28, 2015. Yemen: DOD Should Improve Accuracy of Its Data on Congressional Clearance of Projects as It Reevaluates Counterterrorism Assistance, GAO-15-493: Published: Apr 28, 2015. Publicly Released: Apr 28, 2015. Budgeting for Disasters: Approaches to …

Subjects: Congress, Defense, Education, Government Documents, Internet, Transportation

2014 Report on Security Clearance Determinations April 2015

FAS – “The number of persons holding security clearances for access to classified information decreased by more than 635,000 (or 12.3 percent) last year, according to a new report to Congress from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.  It was the first reported drop in the total security-cleared population since the government began …

Subjects: Defense, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Legal Research

International Atomic Energy Agency Lacks Transparency, Observers and Researchers Say

“The nuclear inspection agency that is central to the current Iran negotiations is flunking international transparency norms, according to a report posted today by Freedominfo.org and the National Security Archive’s Nuclear Vault. Key documents about International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) proceedings, found in various national archives and private collections but closed at Agency headquarters in …

Subjects: Defense, Energy, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Legal Research

New GAO Reports – Cybersecurity, Management of Excess Uranium, Homeland Security, Indian Affairs

Cybersecurity: Actions Needed to Address Challenges Facing Federal Systems, GAO-15-573T: Published: Apr 22, 2015. Publicly Released: Apr 22, 2015. Department of Energy: Management of Excess Uranium, GAO-15-475T: Published: Apr 22, 2015. Publicly Released: Apr 22, 2015. Homeland Security Acquisitions: Addressing Gaps in Oversight and Information is Key to Improving Program Outcomes, GAO-15-541T: Published: Apr 22, …

Subjects: Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Defense, Education, Energy, Government Documents