Defense Business Board holds first meeting post-reinstatement

The Defense Business Board this week held its first meeting since being reinstated by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin following a "zero-based review."

The board, chaired by former Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James, met with several senior Defense Department officials, including Austin and Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, according to a statement from DOD spokesman Eric Pahon.

"The board received classified briefings on the department-wide audit outcomes, military operations, business operations, data strategy, information management and acquisition strategies from senior civilian and military officials," Pahon said.

Though the meeting was closed to the public, the board did release several briefing slides, which indicate members also met with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, DOD comptroller Mike McCord, Chief Data Officer Dave Spirk, acting DOD acquisition chief Gregory Kausner, and other top officials.

In September, Austin directed the DBB and several other Pentagon advisory committees to resume their activities following a "zero-based" review he ordered in February amid concerns former President Trump had used the boards in a lame-duck attempt to reward loyalists.