Senators Urge DoD to Act on PFAS
Forty-two senators have signed a petition urging DEFSEC Lloyd Austin to treat PFAS chemicals on military installations with greater urgency, and set aside higher funding for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances testing and remediation.
‘Fat Leonard’ Is on the Lam
Leonard Glenn Francis, facing sentencing in the notorious ‘Fat Leonard’ Navy bribery scandal and under house arrest in San Diego, cut off his GPS monitoring ankle bracelet on Sunday and is on the run.
Navy: Series of Mistakes Led to Fuel Leak
The US Navy said that several errors led to the leak of jet fuel in water at Pearl Harbor last year. The service’s investigation found that shoddy management and human error caused the leak into the tap water, poisoning thousands and forcing military families to leave their homes.
US Stalls Jet Transfer Plan
The Pentagon says Poland’s fighter jet transfer offer is not “tenable,” after Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced an immediate multinational fighter jet swap to bolster Ukraine’s air force. The announcement appeared to surprise some US officials who had been in negotiations on that issue for several days.
OPM Outlines Discipline Policy for Unvaccinated Federal Employees
Federal agencies have received guidance from the Office of Personnel Management outlining the discipline process for employees who refuse to be vaccinated. Employees must get the vaccine by Nov. 8 to comply with the federal mandate. Disciplinary action could begin the next day.
Names Sought to Replace Confederate Legacy
The Defense Department commission taking suggestions from the public on what to rename 10 Army posts and two Navy ships named for Confederate troops unveiled its crowdsourcing website this week. DoD has until fall 2023 to rename Confederate “items” including posts, ships, street names, buildings, etc.
DoD Eyes Reduced Spending on Carriers
The Pentagon is considering a reduction in its aircraft carrier force structure as part of the upcoming fiscal 2022 budget submission to Congress.
Election Not Pivotal to Defense Contractors
The status of defense budgets and the continuing budget resolution are largely known and likely unchanging going into the next administration, no matter who is leading it, concur an array of defense industry leaders. The uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic is having a greater impact upon defense contractors and Wall Street.
Experts Still Fear Second Peak of COVID-19
The trend of new coronavirus cases is still increasing in 19 states, holding steady in seven, and heading downward in 24, includng Maryland and Virginia. Health experts continue to fear a second peak of COVID-19 in the wake of the reopening of states, Memorial Day gatherings, and protests seeking racial justice across the country.
F-35 Brings Billions to Md.’s Economy
The F-35 is expected to add $2 billion to Maryland’s economy over the next decade, and almost 6,000 civilian and military jobs to the region.
