The US Court of Appeals has selected three judges to hear arguments in December in the case between the Pentagon and employee unions over the new National Security Personnel System. Government Executive reports that the judges include two Republican and one Democratic appointees. They are Brett Kavanaugh, former White House legal counsel; Stephen Williams, Reagan appointee; and David Tatel, Clinton appointee. Meanwhile, Congress has prohibited the Pentagon from using 2007 funds for any labor related-NSPS actions.
Every year, Congress and the military debate which combat assets should head to the boneyard and which have more life left in them. Lawmakers often opt to keep Air Force systems that bring jobs to their districts, which complicates matters as the service looks to modernize and ditch certain platforms.…