Three appellate court judges in the District of Columbia began hearing arguments this week in the dispute between DOD and the American Federation of Government Employees over the labor relations portion of the National Security Personnel System. An earlier decision sided with the union and so did Congress when it prohibited DOD from using 2007 funds to cover NSPS labor relations actions, pending the appeal verdict—which could be a long time coming.
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
