Senate authorizers call for organizational changes in DOD policy, acquisition offices

The Senate version of the fiscal year 2026 defense policy bill included calls for the Pentagon to add a new assistant secretary to its acquisition and sustainment office and absorb a role at the personnel division into an existing assistant secretary position at the policy directorate.

The Senate Armed Services Committee’s draft legislative text directs the Defense Department to establish an assistant secretary of defense for international armaments cooperation who would report to the under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment.

Lawmakers on the panel did not provide direction for the responsibilities that would fall to the person holding that new role.

Senators also called on DOD to rename the assistant secretary of defense for strategies, plans and capabilities -- who reports to the under secretary of defense for policy -- tacking “readiness” onto the title.

If and when the bill is passed, “any reference in any law or regulation” to the former assistant defense secretary role should be interpreted as a reference to “the assistant secretary of defense for strategy, plans, capabilities, and readiness,” policymakers wrote.

The assistant secretary of defense for readiness -- a position currently reporting to the under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness -- would be eliminated in this process, according to the upper chamber’s policy bill draft.