Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) dropped his hold on Defense Department civilian nominees on Aug. 3 after the Pentagon promised to do “whatever is necessary” to streamline the overseas voting process for deployed troops by November, according to the Associated Press news service. The nomination of Anita Blair was not among those confirmed on Aug. 3.
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.

