Congress has reached agreement on the Fiscal 2006 defense appropriations bill. There was no word yet on just what the final total would be, reports Congressional Quarterly. The Senate and House each cut the Administration’s defense request in their separate measures, $7 billion and $3 billion respectively. Rumsfeld has said he will urge President Bush to veto the spending bill if it comes in under the request. Of course, we are still waiting to see whether there will be a companion authorization bill. Apparently, the Senate has been too busy on other matters.
Unit commanders are being told to separate service members who can’t shave their cheeks and chin for medical reasons for more than a year, according to new guidance from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.