House Democrats released an economic stimulus bill today that would provide another $3 trillion in federal coronavirus aid, though Senate Republicans said the measure is dead-on-arrival.
Monday, June 1, 2020
Monday, June 1, 2020
Key Issues NNSA report Iron Dome to CENTCOM LOGCAP V
Tony Bertuca is chief editor of Inside the Pentagon, the flagship publication of InsideDefense, where he focuses on defense budget and acquisition policy. He previously worked for the Sun-Times News Group in his hometown of Chicago, IL, and at the New Hampshire Union Leader in Manchester, NH. Tony has also served as managing editor of Inside the Army. He has a master's degree in journalism from Boston University.
House Democrats released an economic stimulus bill today that would provide another $3 trillion in federal coronavirus aid, though Senate Republicans said the measure is dead-on-arrival.
A group of industry associations says it is "strongly opposed" to several Pentagon proposals to reform the defense contracting process, including provisions intended to counter controversial pricing practices used by TransDigm.
Executives from several defense companies are scheduled to speak at public events in the coming week.
Pentagon Chief Management Officer Lisa Hershman, responding to the new Defense Business Board recommendation that her office be disestablished for being "mostly ineffective," said the board did not properly weigh "significant accomplishments" of the past two years.
The Defense Business Board is recommending the Pentagon eliminate the post of chief management officer on the grounds the position has been "mostly ineffective" and was "never set up for success," according to slides presented today at a public hearing.
The Defense Department has signed a $126 million contract with 3M for the increased production of 26 million N95 medical-grade masks per month, starting in October 2020.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper has released a letter praising the work of the defense industrial base in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper confirmed today the Pentagon intends to seek supplemental funding from Congress to help finance its response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including money to “keep priming” the defense industrial base, especially small suppliers and subcontractors.
The Pentagon intends to roll out this month detailed guidance for reimbursing defense contractors whose employees can’t work because of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new memo.
The week ahead features two Senate Armed Services Committee hearings as well as several virtual appearances by senior defense officials, include the defense secretary.
Pentagon acquisition chief Ellen Lord said today that for the first time since the outbreak of COVID-19, more defense companies are re-opening than closing.
The Pentagon, using its authorities under Defense Production Act Title III, intends to award $75.5 million to Puritan Medical Products to increase production of medical swabs by 20 million per month starting in May.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA) said today he doesn't think the Defense Department should receive industrial base stimulus money in an upcoming COVID-19 rescue package, but the DOD acquisition chief says the department is planning to ask for billions.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper has ordered the Pentagon to defer $545 million in overseas military construction, including programs that are part of an effort to deter the Russian military in Europe, so the funds can be used to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.
The top Democrat and Republican on the House Armed Services Committee today promised to pass a fiscal year 2021 defense authorization bill, despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Acting Pentagon Comptroller Elaine McCusker wants to know by May 8 where senior military officials most want to transfer money so their proposals can be vetted and possibly included in the Defense Department's annual omnibus reprogramming request to Congress.
The Pentagon is bracing for a possible three-month delay across its major acquisition programs because of the COVID-19 outbreak, while Congress is eying another massive economic rescue package that could push billions in new funding to defense contractors.
Several companies will host calls this week to report quarterly earnings, while think tank analysts meet to discuss the impact COVID-19 might have on defense spending and the Pentagon's supply chain.
Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist said today the Pentagon continues to conduct analysis and war games pertaining to its execution of the National Defense Strategy, including an assessment of Navy force structure, despite challenges posed by COVID-19.
The Defense Department, using authorities under the Defense Production Act, has awarded $133 million in contracts to three companies to increase domestic N95 mask production by more than 39 million over the next 90 days, according to a Pentagon announcement.