Pentagon leaders have sent Congress a message: Finish the 2006 defense spending bill before Thanksgiving recess or face dire consequences. A Pentagon memo to Capitol Hill predicts the greatest negative impact on the Air Force and the Marine Corps if lawmakers fail to pass the measure in time and opt, instead, for another stopgap resolution, reports the National Journal. At least appropriators are in conference. The 2006 authorization bill is still hung up in the Senate, as Senators work their way through a host of amendments.
The Air Force has finished modifying and testing the new VC-25B Bridge aircraft that will serve as a temporary Air Force One, the service announced May 1. All that’s left now is to finish painting the jet before it starts flying this summer.