The INSIDER daily digest -- July 24, 2023

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program, lawmakers wanting more warship components to be domestically sourced and more.

We start off with our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity reporting on the relationship between controlled unclassified information and the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program:

PSC seeks closer alignment of NIST CUI publication with other cyber procurement requirements

The Professional Services Council wants the National Institute of Standards and Technology to consider how to align NIST's foundational guidance on handling controlled unclassified information with other cyber procurement requirements, including the Pentagon's cyber certification program.

Lawmakers have approved a provision in the annual defense policy bill that would mandate more warship components be domestically sourced:

Senate advances provision mandating domestic production of ship parts

The Senate approved an amendment to its defense policy bill aiming to boost “Buy America” requirements for Navy shipbuilding by mandating that certain components of naval vessels and auxiliary ships be produced by the United States technology and industrial base.

Along those same lines, 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.

A new Government Accountability Office report finds that "the iterative and fast-paced nature of Agile software development relies on flexible requirements, regular user engagement, and an understanding of the value of what has been delivered. DOD, however, has not incorporated these principles across all of its acquisition paths":

DOD to consider agile software updates after critical GAO findings

The Defense Department has told the Government Accountability Office it will consider tailoring some of its acquisition pathways to account for "agile" software development after a GAO report found that DOD lacks policy guidance in that area.

Document: GAO report on DOD software acquisition

The Army's top civilian official 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.