Senate and House appropriators have a bit of work reconciling the two versions of the 2008 defense spending bill. The full Senate still has to consider its appropriations measure—not expected to reach the floor before the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30—while the House bill passed before the summer recess. The House would trim the President’s request by about $3.6 billion, and the Senate appropriators by $3.8 billion; they differ most on Navy and Army programs. And, Senate appropriators would spend slightly more for Guard and Reserve and health care funding than the House. The Senate version would keep Joint Cargo Aircraft funding with the Army, cutting Air Force JCA research and development. And, like their House counterparts, Senate appropriators would fund a second F-35 Joint Strike Fighter engine. (Senate spending bill summary.)
Planning an Air Show Is Hard. At Andrews, It’s Even Harder
Sept. 17, 2025
Joint Base Andrews opened its flightline this month to thousands of civilians, exposing a normally restricted airbase that regularly hosts the president and foreign dignitaries to a curious public eager to see current and historic military aircraft up close and in action.
