The troubles surrounding the 2006 defense authorization bill may signal an end to extension of Tricare Reserve Select to all drilling Guard and Reserve members, at least for this year. With the Senate bill so late coming to a vote, pressure is on to get it passed, into conference with the House, and approved before the temporary spending bill runs out Nov. 18. There is the rub. Although the Senate authorization bill includes a provision for full TRS, a similar measure was pulled from the House bill, so it could face a tough sell in a time-driven conference. And, the Administration has always been cold to the idea. (Read our coverage here.)
President Donald Trump projected confidence Nov. 19 that a proposed sale of F-35s to Saudi Arabia will sail through the Foreign Military Sales process, an early test of the Pentagon’s acquisition reforms. The deal is also likely to face scrutiny from ally Israel over how it could affect the balance…
