Responding to a question from CNN about who was behind the hack, Clapper said, "You have to kind of salute the Chinese for what they did," adding the U.S. would have done the same thing if it could.

FBI Director James Comey gave the 18 million estimate in a closed-door briefing to Senators in recent weeks, using the OPM's own internal data, according to U.S. officials briefed on the matter. Those affected could include people who applied for government jobs, but never actually ended up working for the government.

Climate change — long the subject of a divisive political debate — is getting a boost of fresh attention heading into the 2016 presidential campaign thanks to an unlikely public figure: the Pope.

After nearly three decades on the job, Librarian of Congress James H. Billington, will be stepping down as head of the world's largest library.

The Republican National Committee believes it has accomplished its goal of restoring order to an unruly presidential debate season -- even though some minor candidates may be excluded from the televised events.