In a July 15, 2019 memo, Navy Secretary Richard Spencer announces he has assumed the duties of acting defense secretary while the Senate considers President Trump's nomination of Mark Esper to become the next civilian Pentagon chief.
Documents
July 15, 2019
The June 25, 2019 Defense Science Board report "concludes that there can be significant benefits from using 5G technology in the DoD but inherent supply chain, cyber, Radio
Frequency (RF)/Electronic Warfare (EW) and virtual/physical vulnerabilities create significant mission risk."
The July 11, 2019 Congressional Budget Office report on the House version of the fiscal year 2020 intelligence authorization bill "estimates that implementing the unclassified provisions of the bill would cost about $5.9 billion over the 2020-2024 period; that spending would be subject to the appropriation of the specified and estimated amounts."
July 12, 2019
On July 12, 2019 the Defense Department released its fiscal year 2019-2023 strategic plan for information resource management.
On July 12, 2019, the Joint Staff released an unclassified overview of the 2018 National Military Strategy.
In a July 10, 2019 court filing, SpaceX refutes an Air Force claim that the company's lawsuit against the recent awarding of contracts for a Launch Services Agreement competition doesn't have merit.
In an order filed July 12, 2019, Court of Federal Claims Senior Judge Eric Bruggink denies Oracle's motion to block the Defense Department from proceeding with a potential 10-year, $10 billion Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure award.
July 11, 2019
On July 11, 2019 the Government Accountability Office issued a report calling on the Pentagon to improve how it communicates the status of regulation changes.
In a May 20, 2019 reprogramming request, acting Pentagon Comptroller Elaine McCusker seeks congressional permission to shift $52 million in its FY-19 budget for a new program aimed at accelerating fifth-generation wireless technology development, $34 million of which lawmakers allowed.
In a May 31, 2019 reprogramming request, acting Pentagon Comptroller Elaine McCusker seeks congressional permission to shift $206 million to support alternate sourcing for foreign-made F-35 parts.
On July 11, 2019 Gen. Mark Milley submitted answers to advance policy questions ahead of his nomination hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Also includes the opening statements of committee Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-RI).
On July 11, 2019 Gen. Mark Milley submitted answers to advance policy questions ahead of his nomination hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
In a July 2, 2019 letter to the congressional defense committees, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Mike Griffin touts the National Security Innovation Capital program and encloses a June 2019 report on the new project.
July 10, 2019
On June 9, 2019 Defense Department officials briefed the media on the defense secretary nomination process and that means for succession planning at the department.
The June 10, 2019 document lists the 600-plus amendments filed to be part of the House version of the fiscal year 2020 defense authorization bill.
On July 10, 2019 the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on the use of emergency authorities to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia with Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Clarke Cooper.
July 09, 2019
In a July 9, 2019 statement of administration policy, the White House threatens to veto the House version of the fiscal year 2020 defense authorization bill.
On July 9, 2019 U.S. Southern Command commander Adm. Craig Fuller testified before the Senate Armed Services emerging threats and capabilities subcommittee on implementation of the National Defense Strategy in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility.
In a July 3, 2019 reprogramming action, acting Defense Department Comptroller Elaine McCusker approves the shifting of $50 million from various Navy accounts to the Rapid Prototyping Fund.
In a July 8, 2019 memo, Defense Department inspector general's office announces it will start an audit to determine whether TransDigm Group's "business model affects the DOD's ability to pay fair and reasonable prices for spare parts."