Overview

• The Army is accepting roughly $1 million from the Association of the United States Army to cover travel and lodging for senior leaders after shutdown funding froze official travel.
• AUSA said Army participation would be minimal impacted, and the service has sought exceptions to new Pentagon limits so leaders can speak with the press.
• Active-duty troops and National Guard units are preparing for missed paychecks around October 15 because of the ongoing shutdown.
• The meeting features a FUZE 'Shark Tank'-style competition with a $500,000 prize pool to rapidly buy and field existing technologies, as Secretary Dan Driscoll signals substantive acquisition reforms.
• Scheduled updates include Joint Task Force 401 efforts on counter-small drones and Next-Generation Command and Control, which drew a leaked Army memo warning of security risks before Anduril enabled additional safeguards.