The INSIDER daily digest -- June 9, 2025

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the fiscal year 2026 defense spending bill, plus potential Army depot and arsenal closures, drone use in warfare and more.

The House Appropriations defense subcommittee is scheduled to mark up its draft fiscal year 2026 spending bill on Tuesday, with the full committee scheduled to consider the legislation on Thursday:

House releases flat FY-26 defense spending bill

The House Appropriations defense subcommittee has released the draft text of its fiscal year 2026 spending bill, marking the Defense Department's topline to $831.5 billion, the same amount enacted in FY-25.

Document: Draft House FY-26 defense spending bill

Top officials from the Army and Air Force were on Capitol Hill last week, discussing their respective services' FY-26 budgets:

Senators bare teeth over potential Army depot and arsenal closures

Congress can be a willful partner to the Army's transformation initiative if the service justifies its changing investments -- but it draws the line at divesting from munitions plants, depots and arsenals, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) said last week.

Driscoll says Army must talk with manufacturers of drones being used in current warfare

The Army must create more dialogue with the manufacturers of drones that are being used in current global warfare, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll told lawmakers last week.

Document: Army's FY-26 posture statement

 

Air Force may revive ARRW hypersonic program in FY-26

The Air Force's fiscal year 2026 budget request may include procurement dollars for the Lockheed Martin AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon, despite opting in FY-25 to all but kill the hypersonic program, according to service Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin.

Document: Air Force's FY-26 posture statement

A Defense Science Board report -- released in April -- "examines the current defense industrial base (DIB), considering current economic and security pressures, as well as events from recent history, to understand whether it can meet both foreseen and unforeseen needs in future conflicts":

Outgoing DSB calls for new view of industrial capacity to support Pentagon production

With China outpacing the United States in industrial capacity, the Pentagon must take a broader approach to building the defense production base needed to counter Beijing, according to a new report from a Defense Science Board task force.

Document: DSB study on a 21st century industrial base for national security