NEW YORK -- Three large U.S. cities filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against the Department of Defense, arguing that many service members who are disqualified from gun ownership weren't reported to the national background check system. New York City, San Francisco and Philadelphia said in court papers that the military's broken system for relaying such information helped enable the massacre of 26 people inside a Texas church last month. "This failure on behalf of the Department of Defense has led to the loss of innocent lives by putting guns in the hands of criminals and those who wish to cause immeasurable harm," New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement. "New York City is joining Philadelphia and San Francisco to stand up to the Department of Defense and demand they comply with the law and repair their drastically flawed system." Local law enforcement officials rely on the FBI's database to conduct background checks on gun permit applications and to monitor purchases. It … [Read more...] about CBS News Logo Cities sue Defense Department over gun-check system failures
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Defense Department To Review Conflict Of Interest Rules Too Late For Northrop
Last Updated Nov 20, 2009 6:00 AM EST Earlier this month Northrop Grumman (NG) announced that they were selling their Science, Technical, Engineering and Analysis (SETA) arm to a private equity group. TASC was a company that Northrop acquired back in the Nineties when defense consolidation was all the rage. The company decided to divest this portion of their corporation due to new rules on conflict of interest that were put in place this year. This placed limits on how a company could bid on a hardware contract if other parts of the company were involved in helping the Government with the source selection. In Northrop Grumman's case they had to sign complex legal agreements with the U.S. Air Force due to TASC's work supporting that service. SETA contractors work within the Government's acquisition and support offices performing a variety of programmatic, technical and logistical work. They can do most any work not considered inherently government and as long as they do not speak … [Read more...] about Defense Department To Review Conflict Of Interest Rules Too Late For Northrop
Defense Department Willing To Do KC-X With Only Boeing Bid
Last Updated Feb 4, 2010 5:58 AM EST The Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in testimony to the House Armed Services Committee made it clear that the Defense Department and U.S. Air Force will release the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the new KC-X tanker and award a contract even if only Boeing (BA) submits a proposal. The Department hopes that the Northrop Grumman (NOC) and EADS (EADS:P) will submit a bid but will go forward with the planned contract even if they don't. In early December Northrop Grumman's CEO sent a letter to the Air Force stating that due to the terms of the draft RFP they felt that it so favored Boeing that they and their partner EADS, parent of Airbus, would not submit a proposal. Northrop had won the contract in 2008 only to lose it on protest by Boeing with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) saying that the Air Force changed the requirements and was not completely fair to Boeing. An earlier attempt to award Boeing a lease for KC-767 aircraft … [Read more...] about Defense Department Willing To Do KC-X With Only Boeing Bid
Defense Department assailed for “paid patriotism” in pro sports
The NFL is considering giving back taxpayer money to the Defense Department, as both of Arizona's senators accuse the Pentagon of paying pro teams to stage events honoring the military. They uncovered nearly $7 million in contracts with items they called "paid patriotism." From an Army reservist singing the national anthem to National Guard members unfurling the American flag, honoring the military is commonplace in professional sports, reports CBS News correspondent Jan Crawford. But some of these events are little more than marketing gimmicks, said Sen. Jeff Flake. "Fans assume when they see these tributes that it's being done because of patriotism," Flake said. "To find out that the taxpayers are paying for some of these, it just kind of cheapens the whole thing." According to Flake and fellow Arizona Sen. John McCain, the Defense Department has 122 marketing deals with pro sports teams worth $10.4 million. Seventy-two of those deals had items the two Republicans called "paid … [Read more...] about Defense Department assailed for “paid patriotism” in pro sports
CBS News Logo Defense Department may lease space at Trump Tower
The Defense Department is looking into leasing space at Trump Tower in Manhattan, a Pentagon spokesman said Wednesday. “In order to meet official mission requirements, the Department of Defense is working through appropriate channels and in accordance with all applicable legal requirements in order to acquire a limited amount of leased space in Trump Tower,” Lt. Colonel JB Brindle said in an e-mailed statement. The statement added that “the space is necessary for the personnel and equipment who will support the POTUS at his residence in the building.” It is not uncommon for the Defense Department to have infrastructure at or near a president’s residence. It is unusual, however, for the president to make money off the lease payments. Mr. Trump, of course, owns the space that the department would rent. Trump Tower has been nicknamed “White House North” and it’s where first lady Melania Trump and their son Barron will be living still until … [Read more...] about CBS News Logo Defense Department may lease space at Trump Tower