The annual defense authorization bill approved by Congress mandates the creation of several new national security commissions that could have significant impacts on the defense budget, military strategy, nuclear weapons, emerging biotechnology and lessons learned from the war in Afghanistan. A key commission established by the bill would be charged with reforming the Pentagon’s 1960s-era “ planning, programming, budget and execution ” process. The new 14-member PPBE Reform Commission will be composed of experts not currently employed by the government,...
