Congress

Did The Space Force Just Ruin OTAs For Everyone?

Did The Space Force Just Ruin OTAs For Everyone?
Did The Space Force Just Ruin OTAs For Everyone?

Other Transaction Authority awards have soared 712 percent since 2015, helping jumpstart R&D, including on COVID vaccines. But now the Space Force’s OTAs have been derailed by a court case against contractor NSTXL – and the whole OTA system is under fire.

2021: Stormy Seas Ahead While Navy Hammers Out New Fleet

2021: Stormy Seas Ahead While Navy Hammers Out New Fleet
2021: Stormy Seas Ahead While Navy Hammers Out New Fleet

The Trump administration waited four years to come up with a plan to increase the size of the fleet, dumping it on the Pentagon’s doorstep even as the moving vans were getting ready to pull up to the White House.

Hicks Is Biden’s Pick For Pentagon Deputy; Kahl For Policy

Hicks Is Biden’s Pick For Pentagon Deputy; Kahl For Policy
Hicks Is Biden’s Pick For Pentagon Deputy; Kahl For Policy

With over two decades in the Pentagon under Clinton, Bush, and Obama, Kathleen Hicks brings the civilian bureaucratic experience that retired Gen. Lloyd Austin sorely lacks. Neither has the political clout of a Jim Mattis or a Bob Gates.

2021: Will Army Modernization Survive?

2021: Will Army Modernization Survive?
2021: Will Army Modernization Survive?

With shrinking budgets and a growing need for new technologies, “the Army will need to make a compelling case to Congress to fund new capabilities and truncate legacy programs,” said CSBA’s Tom Mahnken.

2021: Air Force’s Nuke Mod Efforts Service’s Biggest Challenge

2021: Air Force’s Nuke Mod Efforts Service’s Biggest Challenge
2021: Air Force’s Nuke Mod Efforts Service’s Biggest Challenge

“Not sure if this is a black swan, but I would not be surprised if the next administration kicks off an internal review of the services’ roles and responsibilities, with an eye toward reducing excessive redundancy in force structure and capabilities,” Mark Gunzinger says
.

Aerospace Industries Assoc. To Trump: NDAA Veto ‘Undermines Security,’ Calls For Congress To Override

Aerospace Industries Assoc. To Trump: NDAA Veto ‘Undermines Security,’ Calls For Congress To Override
Aerospace Industries Assoc. To Trump: NDAA Veto ‘Undermines Security,’ Calls For Congress To Override

“On the eve of Christmas Eve, this veto seems to be Trump’s parting gift to Putin and a lump of coal for our troops,” Sen. Jack Reed says.

Most Overlooked Defense Stories Of 2020!

Most Overlooked Defense Stories Of 2020!
Most Overlooked Defense Stories Of 2020!

The most overlooked story of 2020, including by this publication, is that having a president largely divorced from making military decisions worked pretty well for the US military.

Calling SolarWinds Hack ‘Act Of War’ Just Makes It Worse

Calling SolarWinds Hack ‘Act Of War’ Just Makes It Worse
Calling SolarWinds Hack ‘Act Of War’ Just Makes It Worse

The massive hack of federal and private networks isn’t an act of war by any definition, experts agree. It’s a staggering intelligence disaster. So how do we prevent it happening again?

$2.3T Spending Bill Cuts $2B From DoD Request: $3.7B Shifted For Va. Class Sub & P-8s

$2.3T Spending Bill Cuts $2B From DoD Request: $3.7B Shifted For Va. Class Sub & P-8s
$2.3T Spending Bill Cuts $2B From DoD Request: $3.7B Shifted For Va. Class Sub & P-8s

With a presidential veto hanging in the air, Congress charges ahead on huge federal spending votes.

NDAA Loaded With Icebreakers, Satellite Funding For Sharper Arctic Focus

NDAA Loaded With Icebreakers, Satellite Funding For Sharper Arctic Focus
NDAA Loaded With Icebreakers, Satellite Funding For Sharper Arctic Focus

“The highways of the Arctic are paved by icebreakers,” said Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan, who helped shepherd the provisions through to the final bill which sits on the president’s desk, awaiting his promised veto

Buy America Doesn’t Work; We Need Allies: Rep. Thornberry

Buy America Doesn’t Work; We Need Allies: Rep. Thornberry
Buy America Doesn’t Work; We Need Allies: Rep. Thornberry

This is the last opinion piece Mac Thornberry will write as a member of the House of Representatives (at least, that’s what his staff told us!). I’m personally honored he chose us because Rep. Thornberry is one of the relatively few defense lawmakers I have truly respected for his knowledge, his commitment to quality legislation…

Trump Forced To Finally Slap Sanctions on Turkey For S-400 Buy

Trump Forced To Finally Slap Sanctions on Turkey For S-400 Buy
Trump Forced To Finally Slap Sanctions on Turkey For S-400 Buy

“It’s been a moral hazard to fail to implement CAATSA over the last 18 months, but better late than never,” said Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Boost Coast Guard Fleet For Pacific Partnerships

Boost Coast Guard Fleet For Pacific Partnerships
Boost Coast Guard Fleet For Pacific Partnerships

For decades, China has deployed its fishing fleet – the largest in the world – as a maritime militia, systematically asserting and expanding Beijing’s influence throughout the Indo-Pacific.  The fleet routinely operates in areas where there is little to no enforcement and willfully engages in aggressive, predatory practices to intimidate lawful local fishermen, undermine maritime…

Trump 2022 DoD Budget Would Kill OCO Account; Huge Navy Boost

Trump 2022 DoD Budget Would Kill OCO Account; Huge Navy Boost
Trump 2022 DoD Budget Would Kill OCO Account; Huge Navy Boost

The release of the Trump plans will undoubtedly complicate life for the Biden team, which will now be forced to wrestle publicly with both the increases and the cuts.