The INSIDER daily digest -- May 3, 2021

By John Liang / May 3, 2021 at 1:44 PM

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on Pentagon funding of the southern border wall, the Marine Corps' Light Amphibious Warship program and more.

The Pentagon will be getting back all the unused funds meant to pay for the southern border wall:

DOD to receive unobligated funds Trump diverted to border wall

The Defense Department announced late last week that all border barrier projects have been canceled, meaning that unobligated military construction funds diverted by former President Trump to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border will be sent back to the Pentagon.

The Marine Corps' top uniformed officer told lawmakers last week that the service is considering arming its new Light Amphibious Warships to help them deter adversaries:

Marine Corps considering arming Light Amphibious Warship with missiles

The Marine Corps is considering arming its new Light Amphibious Warship with containerized missiles to increase the ship’s lethality, Commandant Gen. David Berger said in his written testimony to the House Appropriations defense subcommittee Thursday.

Document: House appropriators' hearing on the Navy's FY-22 budget

Our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity recently interviewed the CEO of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Accreditation Body:

CMMC accreditation body CEO plans to take closer look at code of ethics policy

Matthew Travis, CEO of the accreditation body for assessors under the Defense Department's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program, says he plans to review the organization's code of ethics policy over the next few months and make changes to increase transparency over decision-making.

The Government Accountability Office, in its annual report on missile defense programs, revealed a big change in missile defense testing plans:

MDA spiked largest planned flight test to date of BMDS system

The Missile Defense Agency last year scrapped the third and largest planned flight test to date of the Ballistic Missile Defense System, according to congressional auditors, an assessment that would have called for five targets flying simultaneously to be countered by the Aegis, Patriot and the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense systems.

Document: GAO report on missile defense

The Pentagon's No. 2 civilian spoke late last week at a virtual event hosted by the Aspen Security Forum:

Hicks frames Pentagon budget strategy; Congress awaits details

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks said today she finds it "fascinating" how many lawmakers have called the Pentagon's proposed $715 billion budget either too low or too high without knowing what is in it.

211323