Watchdog sees rising improper payments in DoD's travel costs

The Defense Department is not doing a good enough job to stop improper spending on travel. A report from the agency’s Office of Inspector General found DoD’s methods for fixing the problem didn’t work because it did not identify reasons for the improper payments. The IG report said the percentage of inaccurate payments made under the Defense Department Travel Pay program grew from 5 percent in 2012 to 7 percent for 2014 at a cost of $458 million. (DoD OIG)

Army Gen. Mike Scaparrotti was nominated as the next head of U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander, Europe. Scaparrotti is Commander of United Nations Command and United States Forces Korea. If confirmed, Scapporratti would succeed Gen. Philip Breedlove. The position is part of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. (NATO)

President Barack Obama will have some company on his trip to Cuba later this month: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. He’ll be there to discuss opportunities for collaboration in agriculture, better understand how climate change is affecting agricultural production in Cuba and help American businesses interested in exporting to Cuba. This will be Vilsack’s second trip to Cuba. He went there in November 2015 for a series of meetings on a bilateral agricultural engagement. (USDA)

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