Army

The Senate passed an amendment Wednesday that prevents the military from cutting tuition assistance for service members.

The amendment, which was included in the Senate’s continuing resolution (CR), would reverse the moves by the Army, Marines and Air Force to suspend the tuition assistance for fiscal year 2013 because of sequestration budget cuts.

The amendment from Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) passed by voice vote.

Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) filed two amendments to a $984 billion government funding bill on Thursday that would gut the military's alternative fuels program.

The amendments already are drawing criticism the program's supporters, which are largely Democrats. Sen. Mark Udall's office said Thursday that the Colorado Democrat would fight whatever measure comes to the floor.

One would strip $114 million from the Army, Navy and Air Force's alternative energy research and development programs. The other would remove $60 million from the Defense Department's biofuels program.

U.S. Cyber Command has observed cyberattacks on Wall Street "grow significantly" and industry predicts these attacks will continue to rise this year, the nation's top cybersecurity chief said at a Senate hearing on Tuesday.

The public websites of several U.S. banks were hit by a spate of denial of service attacks this fall, causing those sites to be inaccessible and unable to load. While these attacks proved to be more of a "nuisance" than a national security threat, the head of U.S. Cyber Command warned that continued attacks on the banking industry could have more serious effects and prevent people from accessing their money.

"The issue that we're weighing is, when does a nuisance become a real problem and when are you prepared to step in for that? That's the work the administration is going through now and highlighting that," said Gen. Keith Alexander, the head of U.S. Cyber Command and director of the National Security Agency. "I do see this as a growing problem."

In a 58-41 vote, the Senate confirmed Hagel as Defense chief and ended a contentious confirmation fight.

The Senate voted 71-27 to end debate on Hagel's nomination to lead the Pentagon.

The chief of North Korea's military delegation to the Demilitarized Zone calls planned drills with South Korea "reckless."

“I think it’s appropriate to wait until we come back,” said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). 

Senate Democrats will not have enough votes to end debate on Hagel's nomination.  

John Allen, the four-star general who became embroiled late last year in a scandal over emails with a Florida socialite, will likely withdraw from consideration for his appointment as NATO commander, NBC News reports.

Allen was cleared of wrongdoing last month for over allegedly inappropriate emails he exchanged with Jill Kelley, a Tampa woman. The emails surfaced during an investigation into Kelley's claims that she had received threatening notes from Paula Broadwell, the woman was engaged in an extramarital affair with then CIA Director David Petraeus.

Outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Wednesday said the deteriorating relationship between the Pentagon and Congress is the biggest disappointment of his tenure at the Pentagon.

Appearing at his final press conference as Pentagon chief, Panetta lamented the increasing partisanship that has come to define debates about the military.

"The [necessary] partnership with the Congress and the ability to have Congress there, to be able to support what is being done to protect this country … that bond is not as strong as it should be," Panetta told reporters at the Pentagon.

"Oftentimes I feel like I don't have a full partnership with my former colleagues on the Hill in trying to do what's right for this country.” Read more...