The INSIDER daily digest -- Nov. 30, 2016

The FY-17 defense authorization bill leads off this Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest.

House and Senate conferees have completed negotiations on the FY-17 defense authorization bill:

New defense bill strips billions from House's planned weapons buys; cements AT&L reorg

Lawmakers have agreed to a fiscal year 2017 defense authorization bill that forgoes billions in planned weapon system increases sought by the House in favor of new readiness spending meant to bolster the total number of U.S. troops, according to senior House and Senate Armed Services committee aides.

Policy bill holds F-35 quantities at FY-17 levels, retains JPO

Congressional defense authorizers expect the House to approve a fiscal year 2017 defense policy bill later this week that keeps F-35 Joint Strike Fighter quantities at the levels requested in the FY-17 president's budget and requires the joint program office to determine which of its functions could be performed by the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. A Senate vote is scheduled for next week.

Congressional authorizers halt Army end-strength slide, punt on unfunded requirements

House and Senate defense authorization conferees have agreed to halt Army end strength reductions in fiscal year 2017 but declined to provide money for a list of unfunded requirements the service sent Congress earlier this year.

More budget news:

Thornberry hopes Trump will send defense supplemental to fund new weapons buys

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) said Wednesday he was disappointed in the compromise struck by lawmakers in the fiscal year 2017 defense authorization bill to remove about $10 billion in new weapon systems purchases, but added he his hopeful the incoming Trump administration will send Congress a supplemental defense budget request that will put the money back.

Credit Suisse held its annual aerospace and defense conference this week:

Contractors prepare for Trump administration

Top executives at some of the largest federal contractors said Wednesday they are readying for a new presidential administration and are expecting an increased focus on readiness.

ULA this week introduced a new commercial launch pricing tool:

ULA's new commercial launch pricing tool could have implications for government customers

As the United Launch Alliance on Wednesday unveiled a new tool to make it easier for commercial customers to evaluate potential launch costs, CEO Tory Bruno told reporters the tool has also helped the company articulate the value its track record of reliability could bring to the government launch market.

The government is proposing a new rule to enhance communication between federal buyers and industry:

Proposed rule seeks to improve communication between acquisition personnel and industry

The Pentagon, along with other federal agencies, is proposing to amend the federal acquisition regulation to encourage "responsible" communication between government buyers and industry.

Document: Proposed change to regulation on government-industry communication

The Association of Old Crows held a symposium this week. Our coverage:

STRATCOM officials: DOD faces operational capability gaps in EMS dominance

The Pentagon is facing a set of capability gaps in its aim to ensure dominance in the electromagnetic spectrum, according to officials overseeing the efforts.

Evolution of electronic warfare could lead mission to CYBERCOM

U.S. Strategic Command may conduct an analysis of alternatives to find ways to better address electronic warfare across the services, Brig. Gen. Edward Sauley said at an Association of Old Crows conference Tuesday. While the responsibility for electronic warfare lies with STRATCOM for now, Sauley speculated that U.S. Cyber Command could take over that field in the next two decades.