The Marines might say they’re the toughest. Or the Army is the strongest. Despite the rivalries, the Defense Department just needs the forces to work together as one. The Joint Professional Military Education Program is designed to put aspiring military leaders on the same page and teach them to think strategically as one unit. The Government Accountability Office has released a report on the program. With more is GAO Director of Defense Capabilities and Management Issues Brenda Farrell.

The Affordable Care Act is nothing if not complicated. The IRS has tried to clarify who can get insurance subsidies and how. But the agency’s rules have sparked a spate of lawsuits. They pose a bigger threat to the law than the buggy web site. Bloomberg Government Research Director Bob Litan has taken a close look at the issue.

The recent government shutdown might have tempted you to play it safe with your money. Pull it out of stocks, put it in safer investments, albeit with slower rates of return. Tom and Emily asked Federal News Radio Senior Correspondent Mike Causey: Is playing with your retirement a good idea?

The Information Technology Industry Council is making a splash in the federal community. ITIC has wooed four top lobbyists from a rival tech association, TechAmerica. With the new recruits, it will launch a public-sector practice. Federal News Radio’s Jason Miller has details.

The military services have scaled back training and maintenance activities because of sequestration. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says if the budget cuts continue, the military may have to adjust to decreased levels of readiness. More from Federal News Radio’s DoD reporter, Jared Serbu.