Based in Washington, Jen manages Aviation Week’s worldwide defense, space and security coverage.
Prior to taking on her current role, Jen was Aviation Week's Congressional Editor. Jen came to Aviation Week in March 2011 from Politico, where she covered the intersection of defense and politics. She also worked as a reporter and editor for Defense Daily, Inside the Army, The Other Paper and The Columbus Dispatch.
Jen received a Master’s degree in journalism as a Kiplinger Fellow at the Ohio State University. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in history and journalism from the University of Michigan.
Exactly how Congress will navigate the fiscal minefield it laid for itself between now and the end of the year is a mystery even to lawmakers. But that does not stop anyone in Washington from trying to influence the process or play it for political advantage. Last August, lawmakers passed the Budget Control Act, which required the government to reduce the federal deficit by $1.2 trillion over a decade. Without a new congressional agreement, the government will face an across-the-board budget cut of about $1 trillion on Jan. 2, 2013.
Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee are leaning on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to push for an agreement to avoid a potential $55 billion reduction in defense spending early next year.
When it comes to extracting U.S. airlines from the EU's requirement to curb greenhouse gas emissions, the House is again putting the squeeze on the Senate. Last week, the House passed another provision blocking the FAA from using taxpayer dollars to impose the EU's emissions trading system (ETS) on U.S. airlines, adding it to the fiscal 2013 transportation spending bill.
