Pentagon

The Associated Press has learned that the Pentagon is eyeing plans to eliminate danger pay for service members in up to 18 countries and five waterways around the world. That would save about $120 million each year while taking a bite out of troops' salaries.

A day without pay, the first of 11 through September, comes next week for more than 650,000 people who hold civilian jobs with the Defense Department.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says the Pentagon will begin the process to extend health care, housing and other federal benefits to the same-sex spouses of military members as soon as possible.

Women may be able to start training as Army Rangers by mid-2015 and as Navy SEALs a year later under plans set to be announced by the Pentagon.

The Pentagon for the first time is officially accusing the Chinese government and military with conducting computer-based attacks against the U.S., including efforts to steal information from federal agencies.

The Pentagon says North Korea appears headed toward its announced goal, which is to be able to strike the U.S. with a nuclear-armed missile.

Defense officials say senior Pentagon leaders are taking a new look at sharply reducing the number of unpaid furlough days department civilians will have to take in the coming months, hoping to cut the current number of 14 by as much as half.

Defense officials say the Pentagon will sharply cut the number of unpaid furlough days civilians will have to take in the next several months from 22 to 14, reducing the financial impact of the budget cuts on as many as 700,000 workers.

The Pentagon says New Jersey could face nearly $78 million in Defense Department civilian payroll cuts if automatic government spending cuts kick in March 1.

The House has voted for a $633 billion defense bill for next year despite Pentagon complaints that it spares outdated but politically popular weapons at the expense of the military's ability to fight.