Pentagon Slows $900 Million Malpractice Claims as Congress Fumes

Roughly $900 million worth of medical malpractice claims are languishing at the Pentagon, more than a year after Congress eased the seven-decade ban on troops or their families seeking compensation for injury or death at the hand of military hospitals.

Lawmakers say they’re angry over the Pentagon’s delays in carrying out a policy for making payments, which may be further stalled by the change of administrations. Victims are talking about asking the courts to force the Pentagon’s hand.

“This is an example of bureaucracy at its worst,” Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), one of the initial sponsors of the legislation, said ...