This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Air Force's unit deployment readiness plans, the latest funding "anomalies" list submitted by the White House to Congress and more.
A new Government Accountability Office report finds "the Air Force plans to eventually deploy an entire wing from an airbase rather than individuals from multiple wings and airbases. But it hasn't assessed whether bases will have enough staff to operate when units deploy -- to fill jobs like guarding entrances or providing security. Also, it hasn't set timeframes for its efforts":
GAO: Air Force AFFORGEN process still a work in progress
The Air Force has not wrung out all the wrinkles in its new force generation model which seeks to change the way the service deploys to be better prepared to deter China in a potential conflict, according to the government's top watchdog.
Document: GAO report on Air Force unit deployment readiness
The White House Office of Management and Budget has submitted "anomalies" lists that includes spending exemptions related to Ukrainian military aid and the U.S. submarine industrial base:
Ukraine and submarines headline Pentagon's CR 'anomalies' request
The White House is seeking tens of billions of dollars in spending exemptions related to Ukrainian military aid and the U.S. submarine industrial base when Congress returns from its break to begin debating passage of a stopgap continuing resolution to avert a partial government shutdown slated for next month, according to a document obtained by Inside Defense.
Document: OMB's CR anomalies lists
Analysts and defense company executives who spoke with Inside Defense said there is palpable discomfort in the contracting community driven by the uncertainty of guessing what could happen to specific weapons programs targeted by Donald Trump, soon to again be the world's most powerful man, and Elon Musk, the world's richest man:
Defense contractors warned against 'headline risk' and 'sacrificial lambs' amid Musk tweets
Defense contractors, especially those with highly visible Pentagon programs that are behind schedule and over budget, are being advised to lay low and prepare to make offerings at the altar of President-elect Trump's new Department of Government Efficiency advisory commission led by tech billionaires Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.
Our colleagues at Inside AI Policy recently interviewed Paladin Capital Group leader Michael Steed:
Paladin investment group leader advocates for cyber in tech principles targeted at new administration
Paladin Capital Group leader Michael Steed says technologists and the tech investment community should have a much-needed seat at the cyber and artificial intelligence policymaking table in the incoming Trump administration.
The Air Force has yet to give the rocket its stamp of approval as United Launch Alliance is still investigating an anomaly with one of its solid-rocket boosters in its Cert-2 flight in early October:
ULA not ready to launch planned Space Force missions this year
United Launch Alliance won't complete the two scheduled Space Force launches on its Vulcan rocket until early next year, potentially months later than planned, a company spokeswoman confirmed.