Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.), as the most senior Democrat on the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, likely will replace Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), who died Monday, as the head of the panel. The Hill reports that Dicks would be acting panel chairman pending a formal vote, for which he is lining up support. Dicks, who called Murtha a “strong leader and exceptionally fair chairman” of the defense spending panel in a statement on his death, is a long-time proponent of Boeing, which has major production facilities in Washington state. He has led a Congressional push to get the Obama Administration to bar EADS (teamed with Northrop Grumman) from competing in the KC-X tanker program over the European government subsidies issue.
Air Force Changes Rules for Pregnant Aircrew—Again
April 3, 2025
The Air Force is changing its policy for pregnant aircrew, generally reverting to rules set in 2019 that barred female aviators from flying during the first trimester—or from flying in aircraft with ejection seats at all—due to potential risks to the pilot and her unborn fetus.