The INSIDER daily digest -- May 23, 2024

The bulk of this Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest deals with the fiscal year 2025 defense policy bill.

We start off with what lawmakers are thinking about the Pentagon's largest-ever acquisition program:

Lawmakers eye future of F-35 in House authorization bill mark-up

The struggling F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program is at the top of mind for several House Armed Services Committee members, who have introduced a number of amendments meant to check rising aircraft sustainment costs and accelerate long-delayed software modernization.

Followed by authorizers' concerns about Russia:

House authorizers want to know effects of leak on Russia's nuclear satellite

Lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee argued yesterday over whether there was a leak of classified information relating to Russia's development of a satellite that could detonate a nuclear weapon in space.

House committee seeks DOD force-sizing strategy on Russian-Chinese military cooperation

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) successfully introduced an amendment last night to the fiscal year 2025 defense authorization bill directing the Pentagon to report U.S. force structure planning to account for Russian and Chinese military cooperation.

There's also shipbuilding language in the bill:

House authorizers aim to raise requirements for ship design maturity

An amendment to the House defense policy bill, passed in committee today, would require the Navy to complete 100% of a new shipbuilding program's design before beginning construction of the first vessel.

Amendment would allow foreign shipyard repairs on Navy ships

An amendment included in the House defense policy bill -- passed by the House Armed Services Committee in a 57-1 vote late last night -- would allow foreign shipyard repairs on U.S. Navy ships, an issue also recently brought forward by Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro.

Along with a cybersecurity provision:

House authorizers want study on creating a 'Cyber Force'

The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine would evaluate whether the U.S. should create a Cyber Force, should the House Armed Services Committee’s version of the fiscal year 2025 defense policy bill be enacted.

Plus Army ground vehicles:

Lawmakers approve defense authorization bill amendments on ground vehicle programs

The House Armed Services committee is asking the Army to provide briefings on numerous ground vehicle programs in amendments to the fiscal year 2025 defense authorization bill.

And Army helicopters:

House authorizers ask Army for briefings on UH-60, CH-47 in mark-up amendments

House authorizers are asking Army officials to provide a series of briefings on various aircraft programs, including efforts to modernize the Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters, in amendments to the fiscal year 2025 defense authorization bill.

Along with authorizers weighing in on whether Air National Guardsmen should be absorbed into the Space Force:

Governors' approval would be required for transferring guardsmen to Space Force

An amendment to the House Armed Services Committee's defense policy bill would require the Space Force to secure gubernatorial approval before absorbing any Air National Guard space-related units into the service.