Operations will continue during the mandated safety training period. The Department of Veterans Affairs will start buying veterans' failing mortgages to help them stay in their homes. What might have looked like an aging system not long ago now appears to be a workhorse that could be used for years to come. The Army will begin a directed-energy test campaign to find the sweet spot for laser weapons when it comes to lethality, reliability and cost. But before it works, the service must break from antiquated acquisition processes that prevent rapid purchases and slow down deliveries to soldiers. Laser and microwave weapons are considered critical elements of layered defense, or having different countermeasures ready to thwart different threats. If Congress does not approve a federal appropriations plan by midnight, some military activities could be postponed or canceled over the weekend. A Pentagon evaluation found some services taking too long to process COVID vaccine exemption paperwork. Learn how your military benefits — including health care, retirement pay and more — have changed in 2024. There are currently eight psychedelic therapy trials taking place across the country through the VA. Load More