New Tricare contracts aim to improve access to health care, clinical quality and patient safety, as well as increase military readiness. Defense and veterans hearings on Capitol Hill for the week of Feb. 5, 2024. The 'Take Our Border Back' protest convoy is being used as a recruiting tool by fringe groups that advocate for violence against migrants. The convoy is making its way toward Texas, where a standoff continues between the state and federal governments over border authority and security. In one instance, funds were spent to investigate a sinkhole, according to a recent Defense Department Inspector General report. The House and Senate have until Friday night to pass another short-term budget extension or trigger a partial government shutdown. The Western States Center rated the government’s efforts to address what it claimed were the six biggest threats to U.S. democracy. Defense and veterans hearings on Capitol Hill for the week of Jan. 8, 2024. Even a single incident of violent extremism by a service member can lead to significant negative repercussions for the nation as a whole, the study found. Congress enters 2024 without a clear plan for federal spending, just a few weeks before another budget deadline. Load More