The INSIDER daily digest -- July 21, 2023

By Tony Bertuca / July 21, 2023 at 12:26 PM

Today’s INSIDER Daily Digest starts off with a Pentagon move to restrict auxiliary ship equipment purchases, a warning from the Army secretary, a hold on DOD reprogrammings that is causing headaches, and aircraft news involving the Navy’s F-18 and the Joint Strike Fighter program.

The Defense Department is limiting which countries can produce engines for the Navy’s auxiliary ships:

DOD limits auxiliary ship engine purchases to five-nation industrial base

Navy auxiliary ship engines must be made in countries that are part of a five-nation industrial and technology base, as outlined in a final rule the Defense Department issued Thursday.

The Army secretary sees Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s nomination blockade having long-term effects:

Wormuth warns of 'brain and talent drain' caused by Tuberville blockade

Army Secretary Christine Wormuth told an audience in Colorado Thursday that she worries that a "brain and talent drain" on the Army is one of the most severe consequences arising from Sen. Tommy Tuberville's (R-AL) blockade of more than 250 military nominees due to his objection to the Pentagon's leave and travel reimbursement policies for servicemembers seeking abortion services.

Another congressional holding action is also causing problems:

Congressional reprogramming 'hold' puts at risk priority modernization, INDOPACOM needs

A House lawmaker is effectively blockading Pentagon requests to shift funds between accounts -- denying the U.S. military the ability to use budgetary maneuvers routinely used to finance last-minute, high-priority needs -- in a move that could cripple critical modernization efforts, rotations essential to integrated deterrence strategy in the Indo-Pacific region and more.

A California congressman sees trouble for smaller contractors if the Navy pushes to obtain data rights from industry:

Garcia: Navy contractors could lose their 'seed corn' in data rights dispute

The business supply chain that supports repair and maintenance of F/A-18E/F Super Hornets will be put at risk if Boeing provides the Navy with intellectual data for the aircraft, Rep. Mike Garcia (R-CA) told Inside Defense.

Lockheed may take a hit to its wallet if F-35 deliveries are delayed:

Lockheed Martin could lose millions this year in delayed F-35 deliveries

Though it reported generally positive results during its second quarter earnings call this week, Lockheed Martin executives said the company will see a loss upwards of $200 million this year from expected late deliveries of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets.

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