News You Can Use: 12/21/18

National Security

Mattis Resigns Over Disagreements with Trump, Defense One

Mattis warns that Trump endangers national security. Here’s what he’s talking about, Quartz

Pentagon withdrawing 7,000 troops from Afghanistan, Military Times

Trump Shouldn’t Withdraw Troops—He Should Rebrand, The Atlantic

House Approves Spending Bill With Wall Funding, Shutdown Prospects Remain Murky, Government Executive

North Korea: We Asked 27 Experts What They Think Will Happen in 2019, The National Interest

Trump’s new Space Force to reside under Department of the Air Force, Defense News

Kirstjen Nielsen plans to leave after Davos, Quartz

NNSA administrator: Strengthening America through nuclear security, Defense News

Nonproliferation Policy and Priorities: A United States Perspective, U.S. State Department

Lawmakers tell Trump his decision to pull troops out of Syria is a ‘costly mistake’, Military Times

Trump’s Syria pullout: A quick assessment, Brookings

Cybersecurity

Are cyber weapons similar to WMDs? DoD wants to know, Fifth Domain

DOJ Hits Chinese Hackers For Attacking U.S. Navy, Agencies, Companies, Defense One

What happens next after China’s alleged theft of American business secrets, Fifth Domain

Public Health

VA secretary promises not to let suicide prevention funds go unspent again, Military Times

Trump Administration Moves On Tougher Food Stamp Work Requirements, Route Fifty

VA Says It Will Stop Arbitrarily Dropping Caregivers From Program, NPR

HIV-positive airmen sue Pentagon, Air Force to stop their discharges, Air Force Times

Human Rights & Humanitarian Efforts

Social Media’s Moral Reckoning, Human Rights Watch

Ten Good News Stories for Kids in 2018, Human Rights Watch

Norway, China and the Deep Hypocrisy of the ‘Human Rights Dialogue’ Ritual, The News Lens

US: Don’t Return Asylum Seekers to Mexico, Human Rights Watch

Life With a Disability in the Migrant Caravan, Human Rights Watch

Government & Military Personnel

If You’re Confused About Survivor Benefits, You’re Not Alone, Government Executive

Shutdown Watch: Congress meets without shutdown votes, Federal Times

Despite Looming Freeze, Last-Minute Bills to Give Feds Extra Pay Gain Steam, Government Executive

This bill to help GI Bill users, vets and others is now headed to Trump’s desk, Military Times