“Lawmakers say the Obama administration’s Overseas Contingency Operations funding request is a “slush fund” that gives the Pentagon a free pass to engage in any fight, anywhere, without congressional oversight,” Defense One reports.  

“Pentagon officials say they need flexibility in an era of unanticipated flare-ups and sequestration-induced cutbacks.”  

“The back-and-forth over OCO funding belies both sides’ resignation to an uncomfortable reality: This is the new normal.”