Among Budget Cuts $15M From MD 5 Project
Among the $3.3 billion major expansion project reductions to Maryland’s capital budget is $15 million from the Route 5 Great Mills project,
House Passes NDAA w/ Restrictions
The House narrowly passed its $886 billion defense policy bill mostly along party lines on Friday, breaking a longstanding tradition of passing the legislation on a broad bipartisan basis, reports Politico. Democrats largely opposed the National Defense Authorization Act after Republicans loaded it up with controversial amendments, including ones to restrict the Pentagon’s abortion travel policy, cut funding for medical care for transgender troops and diversity programs.
Birckhead New MD Adjutant General
MAJ GEN Janeen Birckhead has assumed her new role as the Maryland National Guard adjutant general. Birckhead succeeds outgoing MAJ GEN Timothy Gowen, who assumed command in 2019.
No Bay Bridge Expansion Any Time Soon
Don’t expect another span across Chesapeake Bay any time soon. Maryland Transportation Authority officials say they have four or five years to analyze alternatives and assess environmental impacts and only then, if the state gets federal approval and funding can design and construction begin.
Best, Worst States for Military Retirees
See where Maryland fares on this list of the best and worst states for military retirees.
Trump Cancels Federal Workers’ Pay Raise
President Donald Trump wants to freeze federal workers’ pay in 2019.
More Remains Could Be Returned from No. Korea
DefSec Jim Mattis said that relations between the US and North Korea may be warming to the point that US forces could be allowed to return there to find more war remains of US servicemembers.
Raptor, Not F-35, Deployed for Security Mission
The F-22 Raptor has deployed to the Pacific as part of a theater security mission, swapping in for the Air Force’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
Plan for DoD Cuts Meets Opposition
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry’s plan to revamp many defense support agencies was met with skepticism from lawmakers and former defense officials just one day after the legislation was floated.
F-35A Altitude Restrictions Lifted
The Air Force is lifting its altitude flight restriction for F-35A Joint Strike Fighters at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona.
