The US Court of Appeals has selected three judges to hear arguments in December in the case between the Pentagon and employee unions over the new National Security Personnel System. Government Executive reports that the judges include two Republican and one Democratic appointees. They are Brett Kavanaugh, former White House legal counsel; Stephen Williams, Reagan appointee; and David Tatel, Clinton appointee. Meanwhile, Congress has prohibited the Pentagon from using 2007 funds for any labor related-NSPS actions.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.