NATION IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON, D.C. : Arms Funds Will Be Shifted to Save Jobs

Congress and the Pentagon reached an informal agreement to save tens of thousands of military jobs by shifting about $1.5 billion from weapons programs to payroll accounts. Among the reductions are $8 million from the MX rail-garrison missile program, $10 million from the Midgetman missile, $20 million from the Trident submarine and $20 million from the SSN-21 Seawolf attack submarine. The Pentagon said it needed to transfer the funds to avoid massive layoffs triggered by the Gramm-Rudman budget-cutting law. The funds also will cover a shortfall in the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services.