The INSIDER daily digest -- Nov. 8, 2017

By John Liang / November 8, 2017 at 2:04 PM

The FY-18 defense policy conference bill and the acting Army secretary highlight this Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest.

House and Senate conferees have agreed on the fiscal year 2018 defense policy bill. Our coverage so far:

New defense policy bill breaks spending caps by nearly $80B

House and Senate negotiators have crafted a final fiscal year 2018 defense authorization bill that blows past statutory budget caps by nearly $80 billion and continues the Capitol Hill trend of reforming Pentagon acquisition and bureaucracy.

Conference report balks on Space Corps, eliminates PDSA, A11 space advocate roles

Lawmakers stopped short of directing the creation of a separate Space Corps in their fiscal year 2017 defense policy bill's conference report, but the bill does propose changes to the space acquisition process and eliminates several key space leadership slots, including the brand new deputy chief of staff for space superiority role.

Congressional authorizers approve unprecedented $5.7B, seven-year V-22 multiyear contract

The fiscal year 2018 defense policy bill agreed to by House and Senate authorizers approves a seven-year V-22 Osprey multiyear procurement contract with a caveat -- the aircraft must include common configuration improvements.

Acting Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy spoke at an industry event this morning:

McCarthy: Army preparing 'fundamental reorganization of the way we do business'

The decision to establish a new command to oversee Army modernization will have far-reaching implications -- particularly for the major Army commands, according to the service's acting secretary.

Acting Army secretary: Cross-functional team leads 'dual-hatted,' but focused on modernization

The leaders of the cross-functional teams tasked with pursuing the Army's top modernization priorities "are moving out," building their staffs and identifying the required capabilities in their portfolios, according to acting Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy.

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