Overview
- Rep. Rob Wittman said the compromise FY2026 defense policy bill is nearly finished, with a House vote expected at the beginning of the second week of December.
- The measure advances reforms that mirror a recent Pentagon memo on acquisition, including wider use of modular open systems and elements akin to SPEED and FORGED concepts.
- The bill would replace program-specific executives with Portfolio Acquisition Executives empowered to shift funds among related programs based on performance or schedule.
- Portfolio Acquisition Executive tenures would extend from three to six years to provide continuity and encourage greater willingness to take calculated risks.
- Lawmakers seek to attract more private investment into defense R&D through the Office of Strategic Capital, and Wittman urged Congress to adjust oversight to support responsible risk-taking.