The Labor Department has issued rules clarifying re-employment rights for reservists—the first time since passage of the Uniformed Services employment and Re-employment Act in 1994, according to Labor Secretary Elaine Chao. The law is designed to protect employees from discrimination and retaliation due to military service and ensures that reservists have ample time to report back to civilian jobs after completing a period of active duty. Labor published the new rules in the Federal Register on Dec. 19.
Secretary of Defense Austin Lloyd III met with his counterparts from Australia, Japan and the Philippines to discuss bolstering defense ties on May 2. The discussion included plans for joint F-35 exercises with Japan and Australia in the coming years.