President Obama signed the $1.1 trillion spending bill late Tuesday funding most of the government through 2015. The legislation has been dubbed the “Cromnibus” because it provides long-term funding including in 11 of the 12 regular appropriations bills, including the Defense Department. However, it only funds the Department of Homeland Security through February 2015, leaving room for more debate over Obama’s controversial executive action last month regarding undocumented immigrants. For the Defense Department, the bill includes $490 billion in base spending and another $64 billion in overseas contingency funds. It also includes funding to continue fighting ISIS in Iraq and Syria and to combat Ebola in Africa.
Air Force Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich assumed command of U.S. European Command on July 1, taking over the key assignment as the U.S. and its allies contend with a resurgent Russia and a grinding war in Ukraine.
