The INSIDER daily digest -- June 29, 2018

By John Liang / June 29, 2018 at 1:40 PM

House and Senate lawmakers' debates on the FY-19 defense policy and spending bills lead off this Friday INSIDER Daily Digest.

Continued coverage of the House and Senate FY-19 defense authorization and appropriations bills, which are inching toward completion:

Authorizers, appropriators pitch range of plus-ups for light-attack procurement

Lawmakers disagree over how strongly they should push the Air Force to buy light-attack aircraft in fiscal year 2019, as the appropriations and authorization committees vary widely on how much money to offer the service for a new fleet.

Senate appropriators would stop carrier block buy, direct briefing on sub base

Senate appropriators in their version of the defense spending bill seek to prohibit the Navy from executing in fiscal year 2019 a block-buy strategy for the next two aircraft carriers and want a briefing on the submarine industrial base, according to the report accompanying the committee's bill.

Document: Senate appropriators' FY-19 defense spending bill, report


Granger says Pentagon letter -- and Air Force secretary's call -- sank $1B submarine amendment

Objections raised by the Pentagon, including a call from the Air Force secretary, played a large role in the House voting down an amendment that would have redirected $1 billion in defense spending to procure new Virginia-class submarines, according to House Appropriations defense subcommittee Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-TX).

Document: DOD correspondence with Congress on fast-attack sub amendment


The top DOD official who would be in charge of background investigations still hasn't been chosen yet:

Pentagon yet to task senior leader with overseeing background investigations transfer

The White House is proposing the Defense Department take over the background investigations mission for the entire federal government, but the Pentagon has yet to tap a senior leader for managing the impending transfer of military-specific investigations to DOD, according to a new Government Accountability Office report.

Document: GAO report on internal DOD collaboration


Analysts aren't quite sure what to make of Northrop Grumman's not bidding on several recent major defense contracts:

Analysts say Northrop's decision to no-bid four key competitions presents risks

Northrop Grumman over the last year has opted not to bid in four major competitions, raising questions among some analysts about the company's long-term strategy.

The Section 809 panel's latest report is out:

Section 809 panel recommends elevating PEOs to 'portfolio acquisition executives'

The Section 809 panel is recommending the Defense Department elevate the role program executive officers play in acquisition by giving them more power over program decisions and funding within their capability portfolios.

Document: Section 809 panel's volume two report

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