Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on Defense Department fuel costs, the Aegis Ashore and Standard Missile-6 missile defense programs, the defense authorization bill markup process being delayed and more.
The Government Accountability Office, in an information paper shared with congressional appropriators and authorizers, states that as of March 2023, DOD has "understated" its fuel costs for FY-24 by around $1.6 billion, projecting a per-barrel cost of $111.73, while GAO projects $134.05:
GAO finds Pentagon has 'understated' fuel costs by $1.6B
The Government Accountability Office has found the Defense Department has underestimated its fuel costs for fiscal year 2024, creating a $1.6 billion shortfall that has gotten the attention of a senior Senate appropriator.
The head of the Missile Defense Agency was on Capitol Hill this week, talking about the Aegis Ashore and Standard Missile-6 programs:
Poland-based Aegis Ashore missile defense moves toward full operation
The Aegis Ashore system in Poland -- a land-based component of the Missile Defense Agency's missile defense system -- is operating as it undergoes certification, MDA Director Vice Adm. Jon Hill told Senate lawmakers.
After Patriot downs Russian missile, MDA wants to 'build out' counter-hypersonic capability
The Missile Defense Agency is publicly calling on the Army to collaborate on improving Patriot to give land forces protection from maneuvering hypersonic weapons after Ukraine -- to the evident surprise of Defense Department leaders -- debuted the U.S.-developed air and missile defense system by intercepting a Russian hypersonic missile.
In a press conference this week, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) said work on the annual defense policy bill has been postponed to give lawmakers more time to reach a fiscal agreement:
Debt ceiling negotiations ensnare defense bill
Senior Republicans say gridlock on Capitol Hill over the debt ceiling and GOP-backed spending cuts have forced a delay to the fiscal year 2024 defense authorization bill, a massive, must-pass piece of legislation lawmakers were scheduled to begin crafting this week.
The Patriot interceptor and Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System need multiyear procurement, DOD officials are now saying:
White House OMB seeks multiyear procurement for GMLRS, Patriot
The White House Office of Management and Budget, on behalf of the Defense Department, is now seeking multiyear procurement authority from Congress for the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System and Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement, according to a new amendment to the administration's fiscal year 2024 budget request.
Last but by no means least, the latest cyber defense news from our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity:
NIST releases first draft update of foundational CUI guidance
The National Institute of Standards and Technology, in the first draft of Special Publication 800-171 Rev. 3, is proposing new security measures for organizations handling sensitive federal data that more closely align NIST's massive catalog of security and privacy controls and allow for more flexibility in assessing risk.
Document: NIST special publication on protecting CUI