Testifying before the House Budget Committee, Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England asked Congress for help in the Pentagon effort to increase Tricare fees for military retirees. “We have a lot of laws enacted by the Congress that increase benefits,” said England, adding, “Not always do we ask for them.” He estimated that if the Pentagon can return fees to the 1996 original baseline levels, savings across the future years defense program (Fiscal 2007-2011) would net $11.2 billion. Without raising fees, asserted England, “frankly, there’s nothing else we’re going to be able to do, except come back to this committee and ask for more money every year.”
The use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border this week—which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to abruptly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas—will be a “case study” on the complex web of authorities needed to employ such weapons near civilian areas and the consequences of agencies…
