The Senate has included a provision in its version of the 2007 defense authorization bill that would proscribe DOD to rewrite its acquisition regulations to include a “preference” on the use of fixed-price type contracts for system development and demonstration—in effect putting the burden to maintain cost upon contractors. The prime mover behind this change is Sen. John McCain, who will ascend to the chair for the Armed Services Committee should Republicans retain a majority in Congress. Defense analyst Loren Thompson of the Lexington Institute writes that McCain is driven to this approach out of “concern” that the defense is headed into a “contraction.”
Planning an Air Show Is Hard. At Andrews, It’s Even Harder
Sept. 17, 2025
Joint Base Andrews opened its flightline this month to thousands of civilians, exposing a normally restricted airbase that regularly hosts the president and foreign dignitaries to a curious public eager to see current and historic military aircraft up close and in action.