Five teams named to tackle Defense cuts

Federal Drive

Five teams named to tackle Defense cuts

National Guard standing by for Earl

Federal News Network Staff

September 1, 2010 8:40 am

2 min read

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The Defense Department chooses five teams to lead efforts to improve efficiency and save $100 billion dollars. DefenseNews reports the groups will focus on affordability, incentives, contract terms, metrics and service contracts. In June, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced a goal to save $100 billion dollars on overhead. Those savings are slated to cover a five-year period beginning in fiscal 2012.
U.S. aid to Pakistan continues to flow, as the floodwaters remain. The Department of Defense says that the military is working with other federal agencies to provide $150-million dollars in flood relief efforts, including funding for the operations of the Pakistan National Disaster Management Authority. They’re building temporary bridges, rescuing survivors, and delivering supplies. U.S. military and civilian aircraft have evacuated more than 7,800 people and delivered more than one-point-six million pounds of relief supplies. The United States is also providing millions of dollars of additional in-kind and technical assistance.
On any given day, 17 governors from across the U.S. call on their National Guard units to help them when catastrophe strikes. This “all-hazards response” capability handles missions you may have heard about and others you may not even be aware of. Jack Harrison is the Director of Communications for the National Guard. He joins us at 8:40 this morning to talk about the Guard’s capabilities and how it has been responding to Hurricane Earl.

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