DoD Issues Report on Its Telework Practices
The Pentagon releases a new report on teleworking practices since the pandemic sent majority of employees to work from home. Among the findings: 47% of those responding said their productivity increased while working from home during the pandemic, 41% felt they were about as productive while teleworking as they were in the office, and nearly 12% felt their productivity slipped.
GOP Lawmakers Urge Hike in Defense Budget
Eight GOP lawmakers, led by House Armed Services Committee member Mike Rogers, are urging President Joe Biden to increase the defense budget by 3% to 5%. They say the hike would be a prudent investment to stay ahead of China and other threats.
McDonough Confirmed VA Secretary
Denis McDonough becomes the 2nd ever non-vet to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. — confirmed this week by the US Senate. The former White House Chief of Staff under Obama he is looked to streamline and bring efficiency to the department.
US Sticks With Policy to Keep Turkey Out of F-35 Program
The Biden administration is sticking with the policy of keeping Turkey out of the F-35 JSF program. The US urges Ankara not to keep the S-400 defense system it purchased from Russia in 2019. Turkey should instead invest in the American-made Patriot air defense missile system, the Pentagon says.
Space Force Now ‘Guardians’ of the Galaxy
The US Navy has its sailors, the Army has soldiers. There are Marines and airman. The US Space Force troops will be called “guardians.”
Audit to Probe How DoD Spent COVID Relief Funds
The Pentagon’s inspector general will audit DoD’s distribution of $1 billion from the CARES Act to determine if money designated for a coronavirus response went to defense contractors instead.
New NavSec Braithwaite Confirmed
The Senate confirmed Kenneth Braithwaite as the new Navy secretary, reports Politico. The NavSec post has been vacant since November when Richard Spencer was fired.
MD Sites on List of Locations Where Agent Orange Was Stored, Tested
A new list released by the Defense Department shows locations outside Vietnam where herbicides like Agent Orange were tested and stored. Five sites in Maryland were on the list.
US Wants to Resume North Korean Talks
Trump’s White House asks Chairman Kim to come back to the table for more North Korean talks about denuclearization.
Debate Reopens on Atlantic Wind Farm Project
The Maryland Public Service Commission is reopening discussion about a wind turbine project in the Atlantic off the shores of Ocean City after developers of the project say they want to build the turbines more than 200 feet taller that originally proposed.
