The INSIDER daily digest -- June 18, 2018

By John Liang / June 18, 2018 at 2:58 PM

House appropriators' recommending cutting funding for the Tomahawk missile program leads off this Monday INSIDER Daily Digest, along with a look back at Inside Defense's coverage of an independent "space force," the establishment of which President Trump officially directed today.

House appropriators want to take money out of the Tomahawk missile program:

Citing 'mismanagement,' House appropriators rescind $115 million in Tomahawk funding

Concerned by the Navy's "mismanagement," the House Appropriations Committee is recommending rescinding $115 million of fiscal year 2018 funds from the Tomahawk missile program, according to the report accompanying the panel's FY-19 defense spending bill.

With President Trump's announcement earlier today regarding the establishment of an independent "space force," here is Inside Defense's most recent coverage on that topic:

DOD's interim 'Space Corps' report highlights ongoing reforms

The Defense Department recently submitted an interim report to Congress on the organization and management of the military space enterprise, and while it doesn't include any evaluation of the proposal to create a separate Space Corps, it does reveal several ongoing efforts to improve space acquisition, budgeting and warfighting.

SECAF: Trump's 'Space Force' comments have not altered Pentagon's course

Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said today President Trump's recent endorsement of a separate "Space Force" has not changed the scope or content of an ongoing, congressionally directed Pentagon study of options for changing the way the service organizes and manages its space capabilities and personnel.

Trump's 'Space Force' comments contradict Pentagon, but may align with OMB

President Trump's comments this week in support of a "Space Force" appear to be a departure from the Defense Department's and his own administration's stance on recent congressional proposals, however they may align with a recent report from the Office of Management and Budget on space organizational reform that found merit in the creation of a separate space service.

OMB report highlights merits of 'Space Force,' differs from DOD, Air Force stance

The White House Office of Management and Budget told Congress in a recent report that significant changes to space organization within the Defense Department, including the option to create a separate 'Space Force,' are "not only prudent, but also necessary" -- an apparent departure from DOD's stance on space organizational reform.

More recent, related space news:

Senate authorizers call for space warfighting policy, reusable launch strategy

The Senate Armed Services Committee is calling for the Defense Department to craft a space warfighting policy that would review the resiliency of the national security space enterprise and its ability to defend against threats, defeat potential adversaries and deter future conflict.

Air Force increases funding ceiling for new Space Enterprise Consortium

The Air Force recently upped the funding ceiling of its new space prototyping consortium from $100 million to $500 million due to its initial success and popularity within the Defense Department.

DOD industrial base report highlights top four risk areas for space sector

The Defense Department's latest industrial capabilities report identifies the national security space sector's highest risk technologies and resources areas, which it has labeled "essential to the national defense."

For complete coverage of all space-related news, check out Inside Defense's Space Alert page.

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