The INSIDER daily digest -- March 7, 2018

Today's INSIDER looks at the repercussions of DOD scaling back a recently awarded cloud contract, the reason behind a smaller Navy-Marine Corps unfunded list, talks between North and South Korea, a Navy aircraft carrier buy, and the nomination of the next CYBERCOM chief.

We start with the recent nearly $1 billion contract award the Pentagon has now shaved back to $65 million:

Jilted cloud company expresses 'disappointment' over reduced DOD contract

REAN Cloud says it is disappointed with the Pentagon's decision to dramatically reduce the scope of its nearly $1 billion contract for cloud migration services, blaming “the old guard” of defense contractors for holding back the U.S. military from harnessing innovative technologies.

Senior Navy officials claim a bigger budget in 2019 has allowed them to pare back on their annual unfunded priorities list:

SECNAV: Navy, Marine Corps lower unfunded priorities list due to top line increase

The Navy and Marine Corps have requested roughly $1.7 billion in their fiscal year 2019 unfunded priorities list, a number that is drastically lower compared to previous years, because of an increase in top line budget funding, according to the Navy secretary.

A White House official is urging caution over possible upcoming talks between the two Koreas:

White House urges 'deep breath' on talks between North and South Korea

The Trump administration expects to have further discussions in the coming week with South Korean officials about high-level diplomatic talks they have begun with North Korea, but a senior White House official urged skepticism and calm.

The Navy may be able to save American taxpayers millions of dollars by doubling up on buying the next two aircraft carriers:

Carrier block buy may save Navy $1 billion to $2.5 billion

If the Navy pursues a block buy strategy for its next two aircraft carriers (CVN 80 and 81), the service anticipates it will save between $1 billion and $2.5 billion, according to the service's top acquisition official.

The nomination of the next head of U.S. Cyber Command took another step this week:

Nominee to lead CYBERCOM advances to full Senate

The nomination of Lt. Gen. Paul Nakasone to be chief of U.S. Cyber Command and director of the National Security Agency is headed to the full Senate for a confirmation vote, according to a statement from the Senate Armed Services Committee.