Topic: Contingency Operation

The Department of Defense, GSA, and NASA published an interim rule in the Federal Register amending the definition of "contingency operation" in accordance with the 2012 NDAA. This statutory change allows the Secretary of Defense to activate military reserves for domestic assistance upon a governor's request during declared emergencies. Critics argue this legal shift facilitates the use of federal troops on U.S. soil, potentially bypassing traditional restrictions.

The Obama administration has officially moved to retire the phrase "Global War on Terror" in favor of "Overseas Contingency Operations." A memo circulated within the Pentagon instructs staff to avoid terms like "Long War" to describe military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Budget Director Peter Orszag utilized the new terminology during recent fiscal briefings.