Senate defense committee delays NDAA markup

Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), chairman for the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced that the committee would delay marking up the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act due to "uncertainty" in White House budget delivery.

Spending through OTAs lack of guidance, data, IG finds

The Defense Department's internal watchdog found a lack of data on other transaction awards made through consortiums.

USTRANSCOM prepares for third-party cyber compliance assessments

U.S. Transportation Command is preparing a proof of principle for a cyber compliance program in preparation for broad adoption of CMMC.

DOD forms new innovation group to speed adoption of new tech

A new Defense Department group is tasked with looking for areas in research and engineering that, if improved, would make the DOD better at adapting new technology.

The Army's $22B Microsoft deal might point to a new era of acquisitions

The Army’s Integrated Visual Augmentation System has been in the works for years, but the potentially multibillion deal could mark a paradigm shift in how the Defense Department buys and leverages technology.

DOD bets big on financial data to improve business performance

The Defense Department is betting that insights from its financial data will help improve its business operations, from optimizing the workforce to divesting of legacy systems.

New advisory council forms to collect industry CMMC feedback

The new organization will eventually produce regular public reports and address common industry concerns like the cost of implementation.

Biden taps DIU head for top Pentagon acquisition post

President Joe Biden nominates three for senior defense posts, including Michael Brown, the head of Defense Innovation Unit.

Mandatory review of DOD's compliance on CMMC is delayed

The Defense Department was supposed to submit a review to Congress by March 1 assessing whether components complied with the guidelines of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program. That deadline has been pushed to June.

First set of CMMC certification orgs emerge

The Defense Department's unified cybersecurity program is making gains with its first tranche of certifying bodies, but assessments for defense contractors are a ways off.

CMMC body hires its first CEO

The governing body in charge of implementing the Defense Department's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program has hired its first CEO in Matthew Travis, former deputy director of the Homeland Security Department's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

Air Force seeks 'ubiquitous connectivity' from telework to bases

Lauren Knausenberger, the Air Force's CIO, said since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the service had increased focus on telework and improving base connectivity.

CMMC board preps for staff changes

The body in charge of standing up and running the Defense Department’s unified cybersecurity standard is shifting its staffing arrangement.

'How you spend money matters,' congressman says

House Armed Services Committee chair, Adam Smith's response to Republicans' call for at least a 3% topline defense budget increase is: "How you spend the money is what matters."

New House task force focuses on supply chain vulnerabilities

Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), co-chair of the Defense Critical Supply Chain Task Force, said "sometimes the marketplace just doesn't get it right and we, without intending to, create real national security vulnerabilities for ourselves."

Flat defense budget, cost-savings push seems likely for 2022

Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the chairman for the Senate Armed Services Committee, said military services should look for cost-savings and where reinvestments can be made.

Microsoft calls for acquisition reform amid JEDI battles

Defense industry experts call on lawmakers to reform the bid protest process because it slows the delivery of new solutions -- like JEDI -- that enhance national security.

GAO: DOD has to get a handle on future services spending

As the Defense Department looks to buy more services, it's going to need to come up with action plans to better account for spending in future years, according to a recent Government Accountability Office report.

CMMC reciprocity in sight for 2021

The Defense Department is still figuring out how to give contractors reciprocity with the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program and similar certifications, but the end is close, officials say.

GSA preps guidance for using CMMC in civilian contracts

The General Services Administration wants to get ahead with the training and education materials that contracting officers will need as Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification requirements become standard.