Made-in-America munitions for Ukraine and Israel's Iron Beam laser weapon would get funding. Defense and veterans hearings on Capitol Hill for the week of Feb. 5, 2024. Congress passed a third stopgap funding bill as it races to pass a full FY24 defense budget to avoid a year-long CR that would disrupt Pentagon operation. As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza mounts, a growing group of Democrats pushes Biden to apply human rights laws to Israel security assistance. Accelerating the action comes as border security drives the discussion on the presidential campaign trail. The senior officials were the last remaining individuals involved in the protest by a Republican senator over the Pentagon's abortion access policy. The United States Agency for International Development has a confirmed inspector general to lead oversight of foreign assistance programs and Ukraine aid. Coker’s confirmation fills a 10-month vacancy that was left after the inaugural national director, Chris Inglis, stepped down in February. A Senate proposal would award retroactive pay and benefits to senior leaders who waited months for confirmation due to a political standoff. Sen. Mark Kelly is crafting legislation to support U.S. commercial shipping and shipbuilding, calling the effort a national security imperative. Load More