On Monday, the White House pushed back against claims DOD oversold progress being made by U.S. and Afghan against the Taliban, saying the country is still on track to  take over security for the country once U.S. troops leave in 2014. 

"Afghanistan is increasingly capable of taking care of its own security and ultimately will be responsible for its own security," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters on Tuesday. 

The recenrt ouster of a several U.S. special operations teams from Afghanistan could be the beginning of increased restrictions against American troops that may end up putting U.S. lives at risk, according to a top House Republican. 

Obama traveled to a Navy shipyard in Newport News, Va., to argue allowing the cuts was “not smart.”

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

The Senate Intelligence Committee is no longer investigating “Zero Dark Thirty” and its filmmakers’ contacts with CIA officials, according to a report.

Reuters reported that the panel had concluded its investigation and is taking no further action after speaking with the CIA, citing an unnamed aide.

According to the aide, CIA officials said they did not tell the filmmakers that “enhanced interrogation” helped lead to Osama bin Laden.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Republicans wasted 12 days by delaying passage of cloture on the nomination of former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) to be the next secretary of Defense.

“Twelve days ago Republicans launched the first of its kind filibuster of Sen. Hagel,” Reid said on the floor Tuesday. “What has the filibuster gained my Republican colleagues, nothing, nothing has changed in 12 days.”

The Topline: Senate Democrats are trying one more time to get former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) into the Pentagon’s top spot, with a cloture vote planned for Tuesday to end debate on his nomination.

This time Hagel is poised to win confirmation.

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House and Senate defense lawmakers are crafting legislative language that will allow the Navy to conduct critical repair work to a number of its warships, despite looming, across-the-board cuts to the service's budgets under sequestration. 

Democrats are hoping to end debate on President Obama's nominee for Defense secretary.