The Pentagon, beset by congressional opposition and industry outcry, is backing off a controversial proposal that would have reduced defense contractor progress payments, according to a statement from Deputy Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan. "The Department of Defense is fully committed to reform, a pillar of the National Defense Strategy," Shanahan said. "With a reform mindset, the department is changing acquisition rules and regulations. Recently, proposed amendments to the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) were prematurely released, absent full coordination."...