The Senate Armed Services Committee is slated to meet May 11 to consider nominations for two senior Pentagon jobs.
Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Key Issues Fixed-price contracts STARCOM GBSD test fire
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.
The Senate Armed Services Committee is slated to meet May 11 to consider nominations for two senior Pentagon jobs.
Senior defense officials are scheduled to appear on Capitol Hill this week and several defense companies are holding quarterly earnings calls.
Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks said today she finds it "fascinating" how many lawmakers have called the Pentagon's proposed $715 billion budget either too low or too high without knowing what is in it.
The Defense Department announced today that all border barrier projects have been canceled, meaning that unobligated military construction funds diverted by former President Trump to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border will be sent back to the Pentagon.
Acting Pentagon acquisition chief Stacy Cummings told lawmakers this week the Defense Department wants to focus on "modernizing" the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, rather than accelerate production of the aircraft, which has become the target of renewed congressional criticism.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI) said today the committee has made the "difficult decision" to delay the mark-up of the fiscal year 2021 defense authorization bill because of the "uncertainty" of the White House budget submission timing.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA) said this week he wants to identify legacy Pentagon programs that can be eliminated or reduced so new investments can be made in information systems, like the financial management technology required to audit the Defense Department.
The Government Accountability Office has found the Pentagon's major acquisition programs have accumulated $615 billion in total cost growth since they began, a 52% increase, with about 60% of that growth being unrelated to increases in quantities purchased.
The Senate voted 49-45 along party lines to confirm Colin Kahl as under secretary of defense for policy following weeks of GOP opposition.
President Biden intends to nominate former Pentagon acquisition chief Frank Kendall to be Air Force secretary, according to a White House announcement naming him and several other key administration picks.
The White House has released the names of several individuals President Biden intends to nominate for senior Pentagon positions.
Senior Pentagon officials are slated to speak at a variety of events around Washington this week, while several large defense contractors hold annual earnings calls.
The Defense Department will spend the next two years reviewing all major military installations in the United States and abroad regarding potential exposure to climate hazards.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smtih (D-WA), who will help shape the upcoming defense policy bill, said today he wants the Pentagon to change the way it does business with defense contractors, especially with intellectual property arrangements, so the government can lower costs and promote greater competition.
Defense industry analysts say the selection of Michael Brown, who previously headed Symantec and, more recently, the Defense Innovation Unit, to lead Pentagon acquisition signals a continued emphasis on software modernization and faster innovation.
Vice President Harris cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate Wednesday evening to advance the embattled nomination of Colin Kahl to be under secretary of defense for policy.
President Biden intends to nominate Pentagon official Ely Ratner to be assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, according to the White House.
The Senate has confirmed Adm. John Aquilino to be chief of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, the area of operations being prioritized by the Pentagon, which sees China as its "pacing challenge."
Senior defense officials are scheduled to speak at several congressional hearings this week, while defense company executives discuss quarterly earnings.
President Biden intends to nominate Pentagon official Mara Karlin to become assistant secretary of defense for strategy, plans, and capabilities, according to the White House.