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Ben Wolfgang

Ben Wolfgang

bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com

Ben Wolfgang is a National Security Correspondent for The Washington Times. His reporting is regularly featured in the daily Threat Status newsletter.
Previously, he covered energy and the environment, Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign in 2016, and also spent two years as a White House correspondent during the Obama administration.
Before coming to The Times in 2011, Ben worked as political reporter at The Republican-Herald in Pottsville, Pa.
He can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.

Articles by Ben Wolfgang

GOP rips plan for climate office

House Republicans charged Wednesday that the Obama administration is aiming to establish a "propaganda office" for Democratic initiatives on global warming through a proposal to consolidate operations in a new "climate service" office within the Commerce Department

June 22, 2011

Young scientists highlight need

Across the country, teachers and scientists are facing a test tougher than any in the laboratory: How do they keep young students interested in science and engineering, especially at a time when many fear the nation is losing ground to China and other countries in cutting-edge technology and innovation?

June 19, 2011

Gates confirms talks with Taliban

Outgoing Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates confirmed Sunday that the U.S. State Department is talking directly with the Taliban, but he poured cold water on the possibility that the talks would lead to a quick end to the war in Afghanistan.

June 19, 2011

Obama proposes ‘Plan B’ for education reform

Some congressional leaders on Tuesday said they fear the Obama administration's "Plan B" education-reform proposal could be seen not as a call to action on Capitol Hill, but instead as an excuse for lawmakers to take the summer off.

June 14, 2011

History still a mystery for 12th-graders

Younger students have made significant gains in their knowledge of history in recent years, but American high school seniors' grasp of the nation's past has shown virtually no improvement in the past two decades, according to a major new national survey.

June 14, 2011

A year later, CUA chief Garvey settles in

A year after being tapped for one of the highest-profile posts in Catholic education, John Garvey isn't surprised by the political pressures and criticisms that have come with the job. In fact, the Catholic University of America president said some of that criticism is a welcome change from the type he's used to.

June 9, 2011

GOP senators cut class on Hill hearing

Republicans made good on their threat to boycott Tuesday's Senate committee hearing on for-profit colleges, while Democrats appear intent on introducing legislation to rein in a sector of higher education they say leaves students heavily in debt but with very limited job prospects to show for it.

June 7, 2011

GOP senators noncommittal on inquiry into college funds

Senate Republicans still haven't decided whether they will show up for Tuesday's hearing on for-profit colleges, the primary target of the Education Department's controversial "gainful employment" rule released last week.

June 6, 2011
Arne Duncan

For-profit college regulation softer than anticipated

The Obama administration Thursday released its highly anticipated regulation for tougher oversight of private, for-profit colleges, saying the new rules were needed to protect students who were running up big tuition bills but getting few practical job skills.

June 2, 2011

D.C. charter schools up by 1

Three of the District's charter schools will not reopen in the fall, yet when the new school year begins, D.C. still will have more than it does now — a point that advocates for charter schools say proves their worth.

June 1, 2011
President Barack Obama, left, reaches out to residents while viewing damage from the tornado that devastated Joplin, Mo., Sunday, May 29, 2011. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Twister-ravaged Joplin gets promise of aid

President Obama on Sunday visited the site of a "national tragedy" in Joplin, Mo., where residents continue picking up the pieces after the devastating May 22 tornado that left more than 130 people dead and dozens more unaccounted for.

May 29, 2011
"Medicare will be a part of any agreement to begin to reduce our long-term debt," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, said Sunday. (Associated Press)

McConnell puts Medicare changes ‘on the table’

The GOP Senate leader says the Ryan Medicare plan is "on the table," but Democrats will have to agree to at least some cuts if there is going to be an agreement on controlling the country's staggering debt.

May 29, 2011

McCain: Lack of full U.S. military commitment hurts Libyans

Sen. John McCain on Sunday said Libyan civilians are dying in large part because the Obama administration has refused to commit the full weight of the nation's military to the fight to overthrow strongman Col. Moammar Gadhafi.

May 29, 2011

Report slams heavy focus on school testing

As Congress and the Obama administration weigh a major reform of education policy, the government should overhaul testing methods that have handcuffed teacher creativity and done little to boost student achievement, according to a new report from the National Research Council.

May 26, 2011
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is set to open a third round of Race to the Top education grants Wednesday. (Associated Press)

Feds ready 3rd round of ‘Race to Top’ for schools

Education Secretary Arne Duncan is expected to announce Wednesday morning the third round of Race to the Top, which will include new rewards for states that improve their pre-kindergarten education programs.

May 24, 2011
Piping is removed from a drill used in the "fracking" process to recover natural gas from the massive Marcellus Shale in Washington, Pa. The technology is changing Pennsylvania's economy. (Andrew S. Geraci/The Washington Times)

Locals cash in on natural gas boom in Pa.

Paul Battista opened his industrial supply store in the small town of Slovan, Pa., 31 years ago in the hopes of doing big business with the infant solar-power industry. Times have changed — and so has his customer base.

May 23, 2011