Congress wants a new “independent” assessment of the machinations surrounding national security space to be conducted over the next year. A stipulation within the 2007 defense authorization bill, awaiting signature by President Bush, calls for a two-part review and assessment. Lawmakers want (1) an evaluation of DOD’s NSS requirements and ability to fulfill those requirements, and (2) near, medium, and far-term actions the department could take to “strengthen United States national security in space.” The second part has numerous subsets, including what’s being done to improve interagency coordination and bridging the gulf between “black space” and “white space.” Congress also appears to be leaning toward putting military space acquisition personnel into long-term assignments in a “specialized career field.”
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.