Full Committee Hearing: Reforming Defense Acquisition to Deliver Capability
2025-07-23
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Summary
This meeting focused on the urgent need for defense acquisition reform to address the United States' most dangerous security environment since World War II, characterized by China's rapid military expansion and slow U.S. procurement processes [ 00:24:48 ] . Participants discussed the challenges facing the current system and highlighted the Bipartisan Speed Act as a critical step toward modernizing defense capabilities and strengthening the industrial base [ 00:26:06 ] . The discussion covered a range of topics from fostering innovation and cultural change to improving international collaboration and congressional oversight [ 00:26:51 ] [ 00:39:34 ] .
Themes
Challenges in Defense Acquisition [ 00:25:02 ]
The current U.S. defense acquisition system is failing the American warfighter, taking over a decade to deliver new capabilities while threats evolve rapidly [ 00:25:02 ] [ 00:24:54 ] . This is exacerbated by bureaucratic delays, red tape, a risk-averse culture, and a declining number of prime contractors, deterring innovation and leaving game-changing technologies in a "valley of death" [ 00:25:16 ] . The resulting hollowed-out industrial base is considered a national security emergency [ 00:25:37 ] .
The Bipartisan Speed Act [ 00:26:07 ]
Introduced by Chairman Rogers and the Ranking Member, the Speed Act is central to the FY26 NDA and aims to drastically cut red tape and accelerate delivery to warfighters [ 00:26:07 ] . It will reduce the requirements process from years to months, empower program executive officers, prioritize commercial solutions, and modernize regulations to bridge the "valley of death" [ 00:26:15 ] . The Act also promotes a "data as a service" model, creates the Defense Industrial Resilience Consortium, and seeks to foster a culture of agility and responsible risk-taking within the Department of Defense [ 00:26:26 ] .
Role of Commercial Solutions and Industrial Base
There is a strong emphasis on leveraging commercial solutions and rebuilding a resilient defense industrial base, tapping into startups and non-traditional vendors to fuel competition and innovation . A significant challenge lies in balancing the protection of privately funded intellectual property with the DoD's need for technical data to sustain systems organically [ 00:37:35 ] . Strategies include multi-year contracts for munitions to stabilize demand and strengthening critical sectors like microelectronics using the Defense Production Act . Efforts are underway to address the over-consolidation of prime contractors and integrate underutilized DoD facilities for new production, such as UAS components .
Cultural and Workforce Changes
A fundamental cultural shift is deemed necessary across the Pentagon, Congress, and defense contractors, moving away from compliance and risk-aversion towards agility and responsible risk-taking [ 00:59:13 ] . This involves empowering the acquisition workforce with greater authority and flexibility, and recognizing that a "culture of compliance" often slows progress [ 01:10:05 ] [ 01:01:12 ] . Extending program executive officer terms from three to six years, as proposed in the NDAA, aims to incentivize long-term vision and calculated risk-taking [ 01:00:07 ] .
International Collaboration and Partnerships [ 00:39:34 ]
The meeting stressed the importance of international collaboration, including co-production agreements with allies to build capacity and enhance interoperability [ 00:39:34 ] . The AUKUS agreement was cited as a model for breaking down defense export controls and fostering joint production, with Australia investing significantly in the U.S. industrial base . Balancing domestic content demands with the necessity of leveraging foreign partners is a key consideration to meet global defense needs .
Communication and Oversight
Concerns were raised about communication breakdowns between the DoD and Congress, with calls for improved information sharing and transparency . Members emphasized the importance of congressional oversight and the role of independent review organizations like the GAO, urging caution against "gutting" internal DoD review bodies . The Undersecretary committed to better communication and timely delivery of requested reports [ 01:14:38 ] .
Tone of the Meeting
The tone of the meeting was primarily urgent and collaborative, reflecting a shared understanding of the critical need for defense acquisition reform given the evolving global security landscape [ 00:24:48 ] . While acknowledging past failures and expressing concern about the current state of the defense industrial base and communication gaps, there was a palpable sense of optimism regarding the Bipartisan Speed Act and the potential for meaningful change through joint efforts between Congress and the Department of Defense [ 00:28:47 ] . Members were direct in their questions and expectations, underscoring the seriousness of the issues at hand .
Participants
Transcript
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