The Fiscal 2010 defense budget does not—repeat does not—contain a provision to increase the Tricare fees for retired military personnel, unlike the past three defense budgets in which the Bush Administration tried to raise fees as one means to offset higher healthcare costs. According to Rep. Susan Davis (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Armed Services military personnel subcommittee, Defense Secretary Robert Gates intends “to fully fund military healthcare in the Fiscal Year 2010 budget and then engage Congress in a dialogue about what comes next.” (Davis opening statement) Congress shot down the three previous attempts to budget-in the Tricare fee hikes, but last year, Davis indicated that some increase may be inevitable, however she said it should not be the only means employed to cut military healthcare costs.
The Pentagon plans to use U.S. Air Force C-17s and C-130s to deport 5,400 people currently detained by Customs and Border Protection, officials announced Jan. 22, the first act in President Donald Trump’s sweeping promise to crack down on undocumented immigrants and increase border security.