The vultures are gathering again over the bones of the Space Radar program. This time the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence says it “opposes the Space Radar program of record” and recommends it be “terminated.” Last year, Congress reduced funding and directed that DOD and the Director of National Intelligence collaborate. The Air Force has restructured the program—an effort the Government Accountability Office applauded with reservations—but the Senate intelligence authorizers believe a reduction in the number of planned satellites to meet “fiscal realities … has only served to drive unit costs far higher while meeting only a fraction of the original requirements.” They want no intelligence funds spent on the program, per the recently released committee report on 2008 intelligence authorizations
Three of four congressional committees with influence over defense policy have voted to change the official name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War—but final approval of the Pentagon rebrand is months away and not yet assured.