October 2010 Current Events: U.S. News
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Here are the key events in United States news for the month of October 2010.
U.S. National Security Advisor Resigning (Oct. 8): Gen. James Jones, President Obama's National Security Advisor, is resigning. Though his resignation was planned for the end of 2010, he is leaving the job well ahead of time, due to statements Jones made to the media about Obama's policies on Afghanistan and Pakistan. Jones will be replaced by his deputy, Thomas Donilon.
White House Lifts Moratorium on Deepwater Drilling (Oct. 12): The White House lifts the moratorium on deepwater drilling for oil and gas, which has been in place since the Deepwater Horizon explosion and subsequent oil spill that killed 11 people and spewed 5 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. The ban was put in place so the government had an opportunity to address safety issues in the oil industry; with the moratorium's lift, officials declare that progress has been made in reducing risks associated with deepwater drilling.
California Judge Orders Government to Stop Enforcing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (Oct. 12): U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips, of California, orders the government to stop the enforcement of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell Law," which forbids gays and lesbians from openly serving in the U.S. military. Defense Secretary Robert Gates announces that ending the enforcement of the law so abruptly would have negative effects on the men and women currently serving in the military, though President Obama and his administration officially oppose the law. Gates claims Congress should decide on the validity of the law. The ban has been in place for 17 years. (Oct. 20): A federal appeals court temporarily stalls the U.S. district court decision to allow gays to serve openly in the military. The military will continue to enforce the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy for the time being.
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