The INSIDER daily digest -- Sept. 9, 2020

By John Liang / September 9, 2020 at 2:32 PM

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the possibility that the major defense policy and spending bills won't be passed before the end of the fiscal year, and more.

Don't expect lawmakers to pass next year's defense authorization bill before the presidential election:

Thornberry: Defense policy bill unlikely to pass before election

House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Mac Thornberry (R-TX) said today the House and Senate are unlikely to pass a final fiscal year 2021 defense authorization bill before the November election.

In that same vein, the White House has submitted lists obtained by Inside Defense of "anomalies" it would like to see funded during a possible fiscal year 2021 continuing resolution:

White House seeks CR exemptions for Columbia-class sub, Space Force

The White House is prioritizing the need to fund two Columbia-class submarines and restructure the Space Force in the event lawmakers cannot agree to pass regular appropriations bills and are forced to pass a stopgap spending measure, according to documents obtained by Inside Defense.

Document: OMB's FY-21 'anomalies' lists

Defense Secretary Mark Esper spoke this morning during a DOD symposium on artificial intelligence:

Esper: Pentagon will train acquisition workforce on AI, data science

The Defense Department will launch a training program next month for its acquisition professionals to specifically learn about artificial intelligence and data science capabilities, according to Defense Secretary Mark Esper.

The Defense Department inspector general's office released reports this week on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program and the national security space launch enterprise:

DOD IG highlights lack of oversight in F-35 parts disposal decisions

A new Defense Department inspector general report finds that the F-35 joint program office has a "nonfunctioning process" to determine whether damaged parts should be repaired or discarded -- an issue that has led to a reduction in available spare parts and disposal of hundreds of parts without DOD approval.

SMC complied with new entrant launch certification guide, DOD IG says

The Defense Department inspector general's office this week published its audit of the Air Force's process to certify new entrants to the national security space launch enterprise, which confirmed the Space and Missile Systems Center generally complied with its own guidance, but recommended lifting some constraints in its process and working with SpaceX to assess reusability.

Navy Capt. Henry Adams, the commander of Surface Development Squadron ONE, spoke this week at the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International virtual conference:

Navy to work with SCO during unmanned surface vehicle transit

The Navy is working with the Pentagon's Strategic Capabilities Office to evaluate the command, control and design of large and medium unmanned surface vehicles.

Northrop Grumman has nabbed a big intercontinental ballistic missile contract:

Northrop wins $13.3 billion contract to develop GBSD

The Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman a $13.3 billion contract to develop the military's next intercontinental ballistic missile system, the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent.

Last but certainly not least, some news from our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity:

Arrington: Rule change needed for DOD cyber certification program enters 'end phase,' release planned by November

The Defense Department expects to have a proposed acquisition rule needed to implement its cyber certification program out for public comment by November, according to Pentagon acquisition Chief Information Security Officer Katie Arrington, with the final regulation probably pushed into 2021.

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