Saturday, April 26, 2025
Saturday, April 26, 2025
This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news from the congressional hearing on the nomination of Dan Driscoll to be Army secretary, plus coverage from the West 2025 Conference and more.
We start off with coverage of the Senate Armed Services Committee's hearing on the nomination of Dan Driscoll to be Army secretary:
Army secretary nominee says service must look at directed energy for cUAS
Dan Driscoll, President Trump's nominee to be the next Army secretary, said during his confirmation hearing today that the service must look at directed energy as a potential cost-effective solution for countering drones.
Army sec nominee pledges to boost stockpiling and industrial base at confirmation hearing
One of the main challenges facing the Army is stockpiling, Dan Driscoll, the nominee to be the next service secretary, told senators today at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Fixing it will be at the top of his list if confirmed.
What will it take to be the next Army secretary? Three former officeholders weigh in
Three former Army secretaries who spoke with Inside Defense this week say Dan Driscoll, President Trump's nominee to be Army secretary, could face a host of questions from senators as he goes through the confirmation process.
Document: Driscoll's nomination hearing APQs
News from Northrop Grumman's and General Dynamics' earnings calls this week:
Northrop Grumman sees opportunity in Trump's missile defense order
Northrop Grumman could put its hat in the ring for parts of President Trump's "Iron Dome for America" effort for domestic air defense, according to CEO Kathy Warden.
General Dynamics sees growth in combat systems, CEO calls for 'rational' Stryker funding
The growth in General Dynamics' combat systems profile in the last quarter of 2024 was driven by climbing demand for munitions and combat vehicles, a company official said during an earnings call this morning. But the company still needs more funding for Stryker combat vehicles.
The latest on the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program from our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity:
CMMC accreditation body outlines plan to address DOD IG report on authorizing C3PAOs
The accreditation body behind the Pentagon’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program is in the process of responding to findings from a Defense Department inspector general report on efforts to authorize certified third-party assessment organizations, according to Cyber AB CEO Matthew Travis.
Continuing coverage of the West 2025 conference in San Diego:
Marine Corps to deploy dismounted counter-UAS capabilities this year
SAN DIEGO -- The Marine Corps is working to rapidly develop new counter-drone capabilities to protect dismounted Marines from unmanned aerial threats, with plans to field a capability this calendar year, according to the commanding general of Marine Corps Combat Development Command.
Trump administration will 'put its stamp on' FY-26 budget, Navy and Congress expect
SAN DIEGO -- The Trump administration is expected to amend the Pentagon's fiscal year 2026 budget request before it is submitted to Congress, likely increasing both topline spending levels and funding for shipbuilding programs, according to a House member and Navy official.
Carrier strike group leaders push claims of capability for future fight amid doubts of viability for modern warfare
SAN DIEGO -- Following an eventful year for carrier aviation -- particularly in the Red Sea -- top Navy officials today pushed back against recent criticism that carriers may not be prepared for the future fight, or survivable against modern warfare.
In a letter to Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur heading the Department of Government Efficiency project, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) proffers a list of Defense Department practices that could potentially save billions of dollars if done away with:
Warren points DOGE to Pentagon 'wasteful' practices that could harvest hundreds of billions
The long-standing Pentagon practice of generating massive spending wish lists that target projects for funding above and beyond the formal Defense Department budget proposal proffered by the president should be targeted for elimination by the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency -- to harvest about $30 billion annually, according to a senator.
Document: Warren letter to DOGE on DOD budget savings