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Thursday Afternoon Federal Newscast

President Barack Obama on Thursday shelved a Bush-era plan for an Eastern European missile defense shield that has been a major irritant in relations with Russi...

Federal News Network Staff

September 17, 2009 5:20 pm

2 min read

President Barack Obama on Thursday shelved a Bush-era plan for an Eastern European missile defense shield that has been a major irritant in relations with Russia. He said a redesigned defensive system would be cheaper and more effective against the threat from Iranian missiles. With the announcement, Washington scrapped what had become a politically troublesome plan, and one the Pentagon says was ill-suited to the true threat from Iran. In its place would be a system the Pentagon contends will accomplish the original goal and more.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence is bringing back a familiar face to handle its acquisition and technology office. Dawn Meyerriecks, a former Defense Information Systems Agency chief technology officer, will step into the role of the deputy director of national intelligence for acquisition and technology. In her new role, Meyerriecks will be the senior acquisition executive and an advisor to Dennis Blair, the director of national intelligence, on science and technology issues. She also will be responsible for generating and developing research and development to push the intelligence community forward.

It will cost taxpayers $6.5 billion over the next 20 years to maintain the fence along the U.S-Mexico border, according to a government audit. According to a Government Accountability Office report released Thursday, The $6.5 billion price tag is in addition to the $2.4 billion that’s been spent to build more than 600 miles of fence segments along the southwest border. As of May 14, there have been 3,363 breaches in the fence, which cost about $1,300 each to repair.

President Barack Obama says the United States will share 10 percent of its swine flu vaccine supply with other nations to help fight the deadly virus’ global spread.The White House on Thursday announced that flu vaccines to counter the virus known among scientists as H1N1 would be available through the World Health Organization. The U.S. is working with Australia, Brazil, France, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom to share vaccines.