Acquisition reform Archives

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Acquisition reform

U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth deliver remarks in the Oval Office of the White House on March 21, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Trump directs Pentagon to tee up major acquisition programs for potential cancellation

President Trump signed an executive order Wednesday that could lead to the cancellation of major defense acquisition programs, boost the procurement of commercial technologies and shake up…

Apr 9, 2025 By Jon Harper

An aerial view of the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., May 15, 2023. (DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. John Wright)

The Pentagon should abandon Soviet-era centralized planning

By definition, predictive planning systems such as the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) cannot work in a dynamic environment.

Feb 24, 2025 By Bryan Clark Dan Patt

Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) listens as Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) speaks during a news conference on the introduction of their Protection from Abusive Passengers Act at the U.S. Capitol Building on April 06, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

SASC chair anticipates push for ‘significant reforms’ in 2025 NDAA to help Pentagon acquire new tech

A commission on reforming planning, programming, budgeting and execution recently delivered its final report to Congress.

Mar 18, 2024 By Jon Harper

DOD CIO John Sherman speaks at DefenseTalks 2023. (DefenseScoop)

DOD CIO updates guidance for buying digital technologies

The DOD officially updated its overarching guidance governing how its components buy software and associated tech to better align with recent changes in other statutes and policies…

Jun 2, 2023 By Brandi Vincent

U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall speaks at the National Press Club on April 19, 2022. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

The Air Force wants new authorities to kick off programs. Will Congress grant them?

Acquisition experts say that lawmakers may be hesitant to grant such powers to the services for a variety of reasons.

Apr 26, 2023 By Mikayla Easley

Secretary of the Army Hon. Christine Wormuth and Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology), and Army Acquisition Executive Mr. Douglas R. Bush, briefed on capabilities of Army Applications Lab on September 20th, 2021, in Austin, Texas.

Army needs to better use recent software authorities, new acquisition leader says

Douglas Bush, the new head of acquisition, technology and logistics for the Army, plans to use new funding flexibilities to reform how the service buys software.

Feb 17, 2022 By Jackson Barnett

Jim Mattis, Raj Shah — Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, left, speaks with Raj Shah at DIUx headquarters in Mountain View, California, in August 2017. (DOD photo / Flickr)

Former DIU leader gets seat on commission examining military budget

Raj Shah will be one of 14 members on the Commission on Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution Reform.

Feb 1, 2022 By Jackson Barnett