The Senate defied its majority leader and the threat of a Presidential veto in passing a highly padded version of the 2006 emergency supplemental for the war on terror and hurricane recovery. The more than $14 billion bump up to the Administration request also flies in the face of the House version, which held close to the Administration’s figure of about $92 billion. House leaders say they will not agree to the beefy Senate bill, which includes add-ons ranging from farm subsidies to money for additional C-17s. Sen. Jim Talent (R-Mo.) managed to add approximately $227 million to go toward additional C-17 airlifters.
Active-duty transgender troops have until June 6 to self-identify and begin the voluntary separation process or wait and risk possible involuntary separation later—even as questions linger over how that decision might affect their security clearances for future employment.