The April 2, 2013, Congressional Budget Office report on alternatives to the Army's Ground Combat Vehicle program concludes that every option open to the service -- buying off-the-shelf vehicles from foreign allies, upgrading Bradley infantry carriers and killing the GCV altogether -- is less risky and more affordable than the Army's current path.

The April 1, 2013, Government Accountability Office report looks at the Defense Department's procurement of Mi-17 helicopters through Rosoboronexport, a Russian state-owned arms export firm.

In a March 27, 2013, letter, Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) pushes for answers from Army Secretary John McHugh on why several service units' requests for Palantir -- a commercial-off-the-shelf technology designed to fill a capability gap that the Distributed Common Ground System-Army cannot fulfill -- continue to be denied.

In a March 27, 2013, letter, a bipartisan group of 10 House members asks the Navy to move forward with previously scheduled surface ship maintenance availabilities now that President Obama has signed into law an appropriations bill that funds the Defense Department through the end of fiscal year 2013.

On March 28, 2013, the Government Accountability Office released its "annual assessment of Defense Department weapon system acquisitions, an area that has been on GAO's high-risk list for more than 20 years."

The March 28, 2013, Government Accountability Office report recommends that the Defense Department "identify, track, and consider the specific factors that affect competition when setting competition goals; develop guidance to apply lessons learned from past procurements to help achieve competition in the future; and collect reliable data on one-offer awards."

The March 28, 2013, Government Accountability Office report finds that "selected defense programs need to implement key acquisition practices" for their major automated information systems.

In a March 27, 2013, letter to Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Ranking Member Tom Coburn (R-OK) writes that "it makes little sense" to furlough government employees like air traffic controllers and border patrol agents "while retaining employees who are AWOL, on standby, not performing official duties or sitting idle awaiting security clearances."

In a Feb. 1, 2013, letter to congressional leaders, Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Michael Vickers and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. James Winnefeld write that the Navy is maintaining and sustaining its aging fleet of EP-3E Airborne Reconnaissance Integrated Electronic System II aircraft, as well as other secretive Special Projects Aircraft, to support the requirements of combatant commanders.

The January 2013 report outlines the activities of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Task Force.

The March 21, 2013, Congressional Research Service report -- originally obtained by Secrecy News -- discusses Chinese naval modernization and the implications for U.S. Navy capabilities.

On March 20, 2013, senators debated and passed the fiscal year 2013 continuing resolution, which includes spending bills for defense and military construction.

In a March 19, 2013, letter, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon (R-CA), Vice Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX), strategic forces subcommittee Chaiman Mike Rogers (R-AL), tactical air and land forces subcommittee Chairman Michael Turner (R-OH) and 15 other panel members tell Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel that the Obama administration's "reluctance" to move forward on the deployment of an East Coast missile defense site "is ill-advised and risky."

On March 20, 2013, the Senate passed its version of the fiscal year 2013 continuing resolution, which would fund the government through the end of the current fiscal year and includes appropriations bills for defense and military construction, among others.

On March 19, 2013, senators debated the fiscal year 2013 continuing resolution, which includes spending bills for defense and military construction.

On March 20, 2013, the House Armed Services Committee held a hearing on the force postures of U.S. Northern and Southern commands. Includes the opening statements of committee Chairman Buck McKeon (R-CA) and Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA) as well as the prepared testimony of NORTHCOM chief Gen. Charles Jacoby and SOUTHCOM chief Gen. John Kelly.

The March 20, 2013, Government Accountability Office report finds that "actions [are] needed to improve oversight of emergency food aid and assess security assistance" to Yemen.

The March 15, 2013, Congressional Research Service report -- originally obtained by Secrecy News -- discusses background and issues for lawmakers regarding Navy irregular warfare and counterterrorism operations.

On March 19, 2013, the House Armed Services tactical air and land forces subcommittee held a hearing on equipping, modernizing and sustaining the National Guard and Reserve. Includes the opening statement of subcommittee Chairman Michael Turner (R-OH) . . .

On March 19, 2013, the House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee held a hearing on the U.S. nuclear deterrent in an era of sequestration. Includes the opening statement of subcommittee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) as well as the prepared testimony of Bruce Blair from the World Security Institute and Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments President Andrew Krepinevich.